Priorities

I think I speak for most mommies when I say this... we get so caught up sometimes in the "stuff" that needs to get done that we can forget when to stop and really savor the precious moments we have with our little ones. I'm trying to get better about that... it can be so easy to just keep on getting work done when Jenna comes to me and says, "Can I sit on you?" How often have I answered, "Not right now, honey" when I need to stop what I'm doing and sit down and cuddle with her.

A friend of mine posted this on her blog, and I really wanted to share it because it hit home for me. I think I need to frame it so I can be reminded of what really matters every day.

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But 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