My friend posted this as a note on her Facebook page. I've never heard or read this poem before but it dawned on me when I read it...I may not be a great house-keeper, but it matters not as long as I'm a great mother. :)
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rock-a-bye, Lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek-peek-a-boo).
The shopping is not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there is a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing "Kanga" and this is my "Roo."
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rock-a-bye, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
Ruth Hulburt Hamilton, 1958
3 comments:
You're an awesome Mom Leslie and thats all that matters. Take time to enjoy your babies while you can- the house cleaning will always be there. Love ya!
I love this poem. My sister-in-law put this poem on a blanket she made for Tyler. I struggle with this. I always say, "I'm such a Martha." Mary chose the wiser path by stopping to listen to Christ and so should we. Putting Christ and our children/families above housework is the most important. I have to remind myself of this frequently.;)
This poem always makes me tear up a little bit. Kids don't "keep" that's for sure. And I know that most of the time I don't have the cleanest house on the block, but perhaps I will when I'm old, lol! I do notice that when I'm in a cleaning routine and doing a lot all the time, that I feel like I miss my kids. That I'm not spending enough quality time with them. Ahhh, it makes me want to go wake my girlies up for a hug.... but I'll wait until the morning instead.
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