Every night I pray that time will slow down, just a little bit, so I can enjoy my children as they are. I'm so happy to see them grow and become these amazing little people, but it breaks my heart that it happens so fast. Since Dallan was born I've been struggling to keep up with the laundry, cooking and cleaning. At the same time I'm trying to hold on to each moment with my last newborn baby. It's joyful and painful all at once. I read this poem for the first time on Saturday and tears started to stream down my face. Ah, motherhood. The Lord hasn't slowed time for me yet, but I'll keep asking.
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on the 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'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, 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 Hulbert Hamilton, 1958
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What a beautiful poem! You're doing a wonderful job with your children. We are so grateful for the addition of Dallan to your sweet family. He is such a beautiful and GOOD baby! Thanks for sharing him with us. We love you!
The Kempton's