Song for a First Child

Shout-out to Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, whose poem has, since 1958, been honoring mothers, and giving the permission that so many of us crave to be mamas first and homemakers (and everything else) second. I don’t know how many times someone has quoted the last stanza of her poem to me in the past 10 months, and every time I sigh and think, “Ya. It’s okay.”

That said, I thought the rest of it was due for just a little updating. Some fun on a Friday:

Song for a First Child

Mother, oh Mother, come update your blog,
Clean up this kitchen, and then walk the dog,
Answer these emails and mimic this Pin,
Do something crafty and pick up that chin!

Where is the mama whose life is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Dang it, I’m tired and my baby is too.
(Lullaby, baby, sweet cutie-poo)
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due.
(This little piggy, and peek, peekaboo.)
The shopping, the laundry, the slow-cooker stew,
And back in the office there’s so much to do.

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo,
And my new-mama heart melts with each little coo.
(I love you, baby, and Daddy does too.)

The cleaning and posting will wait till tomorrow,
‘Cause babies 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.

Happy weekend. Spend it with your babies!