5 POEM: Get out the Kleenex!

I read this poem posted on my cousin Dev's blog today and just had to post it here.
Sorry for the swipe, but I need the reminder -sob!

The baby is teething; The children are crying.
Your husband just called and said "Eat dinner without me."

One of these days you'll explode and shout to all the kids,
"Why don't you just grow up and act your age!"
And they will...

Or, "You guys get outside and find something to do -- without hurting each other
And don't slam the door!"
And they don't.

You'll straighten their bedrooms until it's all neat and tidy,
toys displayed on the shelf,
hangers in the closet,
animals caged.
You'll yell, "Now I want it to stay this way!"
And it will...

You will prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't had all the olives picked out
and a cake with no finger traces in the icing
and you'll say, "Now this is a meal for company."
And you will eat it alone...

You'll yell, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No screaming, Do you hear me?"
And no one will answer.

No more plastic tablecloths stained.
No more dandelion bouquets.
No more iron-on patches.
No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine.... a lipstick with a point,
no babysitters for New Years Eve,
washing clothes only once a week,
no PTA meetings
or silly school plays where your child is a tree,
no car pools,
blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.

No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks,
no wet oatmeal kisses,
no more tooth fairy,
no more giggles in the dark,
scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.

Only a voice asking, "Why don't you grow up?"
And the silence echoes:
"I did"

I am so glad I took the time to take my girls to the library today. I was wasted from pulling an all-nighter to finish a major work project by 4:45am this morning, just in time to go coupon grocery shopping with my sister-in-law at 5:45am. I'm not a young chick anymore, I admit. I truly felt awful this morning BUT I've never taken my girls to our local library (and before you judge, it really is the most pathetic excuse for a library), and for some weird reason, yesterday the thought came to me that we must go there today. I'm not claiming it was a spiritual whisper, but I was glad I listened nonetheless. Nothing amazing happened, rather it was just nice. I'll take that!

We were the only patrons in the tiny one-room basement children's section. The 3 of us sat on the floor and I read all the books Allie picked out, well the non-spanish ones anyway. We also played with the hand puppets. Kylie really got a kick out of them. I was very proud when Allie asked the librarian to help her find a book about Cinderella, all by herself. She was so grownup about it all. She amazes me. Kylie actually enjoyed herself more than I expected and was on her best behavior until I instisted she leave the sparkley board puzzle when we left. Not bad for a not quite 2-year-old. Not bad. Oh, the reason we left was a smelly behind and lack of diaper bag...I've gotten lazy about leaving the house prepared. Sorry child #2, its just the way it is.

When we got home it was diaper change, banana snack, and naps all around. As tired as I was, I gave rigth in when Allie asked me to lay with her for a 'little while'. It was so nice to snuggle up with my not-so-baby girl on my bed. It was blissfull fall asleep to the sound of her breathing, warm body curled up by my side. I think I might do that more often! Work can wait...I'll gladly stay up all night working to have moments like thoes with my children the next day. I think I am starting to realized just how fleating childhood is. sigh.