Today I'm linking up at Kelly's Korner
When my children were small I had this quote hanging near my rocking chair -
"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I've learned to my sorrow.
So settle down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep!"
Against the advice of almost everyone I knew, I rocked both of my babies to sleep every-single-night until they hopped out of my lap on their own. I have never regretted this and I remember just plugging my ears when others told me not to, that they needed to "learn" to go to sleep on their own. Guess what? They did learn! When THEY thought they were too old to be rocked by Momma. ;-)
During that time I did do my cleaning and scrubbing,
During that time I did do my cleaning and scrubbing,
but I worked it in around rocking, playing games (lots of games!), trips to the park and to the library, reading stories, playing in the backyard, homeschooling, having play dates, and hosting children's parties (lots of parties!). Oh, how I loved the 10 and under years. My motto back then was - ENJOY! :-)
Now, I have a tween and a teen...and most days I truly feel like I have absolutely no idea what I am doing! Maybe when they graduate college, I might have some parenting advice for these years.
A good sign to hang right now would be -
"Keep calm and carry on!"
My motto now is - SURVIVE! ;-)
and to always remember...
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord." Psalms 127:3
...and could it be just a coincidence, or my subliminal thought process, that the pic I chose for this post of my tween and teen covers up their mouths?? ;-)
...and could it be just a coincidence, or my subliminal thought process, that the pic I chose for this post of my tween and teen covers up their mouths?? ;-)
Oh my gosh, I love this post!! I still rock my 2 year old before bed and my husband thinks we should teach him to not have to do that anymore. I know there will come a day when my toddler doesn't WANT me to rock him, so right now I am enjoying it. I mean, rocking my kids to sleep--- like it's going to hurt them?! I love spending that snuggly time with them at night, like yousaid, I'm sure when they are 17 they won't want me to rock them anymore! :)
ReplyDeleteWith my 8 children I was always told to put them in their bed when they fell asleep and I disagreed. I lopve rocking my baby's.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post - very pleased to meet you! That poem is a favourite of mine.
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I cross-stitched the same poem when I was pregnant with my first child. I rocked both my babies to sleep every night for years. I had a huge lullaby repertoire - from traditional lullabies to John Denver, the Beatles, James Taylor, etc. Both my sons are adults now and my oldest is a recording artist/musician. He was recently married and when I walked down the aisle he had a classical guitarist playing "Here, There & Everywhere" by Lennon/McCartney - one of the songs I used to sing to him. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThere's not a week that goes by that I don't wish I could rock my toddlers once more.
What a coincidence! A lady at the homeschool conference I attended last weekend read us that song/poem. I just posted it on my blog today before even seeing this on your page! After she read it, I wanted to find it in needlepoint or needlepoint it myself to frame in my house. :) Gavin loved to be rocked and still would let me if I could. Bella on the other hand reaches for her crib. It's so sad to me!! I'm hoping this next boy is a cuddle guy like Gavin. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed you encouragement in this post. Thanks for sharing. I am featuring it on my "Sweet .n. Simple's" Friday Finds. Smiles, Kelsey
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