Poetry For Parents

Pratt's Resources for Parenting & Beyond

You Know You're A Mother When...

Real Mothers
~author unknown~

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
    Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
    Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
    Real Mothers know that dried Playdough doesn't come out of carpet.
    Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
    Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer when little voice says, "because I love you best."
    Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade. It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom.

Tone Of Voice
~author unknown~

It's not so much what you say,
as the manner in which you say it;
It's not so much the language you use, as the tone in which you convey it.

"Come here", I sharply said,
And the child cowered and wept.
"Come here", I said he looked and smiled,
And straight to my lap he crept.

Words may be mild and fair,
But the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air,
But the tone may break my heart;

For words come from the mind
Grow by study and art,
But tone leaps from the inner self,
Revealing the state of heart.

Whether you know it or not,
Whether you mean or care,
Gentleness, kindness, love and hate,
Envy, anger are there.

Then, would you quarrels avoid
and peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your words,
Keep it out of your voice.

Handwriting on the Wall
~author unknown~

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.

Other Poems

 Poetry by Nursing Moms - The Complete List at Breastfeeding.com

Wean Me Gently

Mom I Am

How To Bake A Cake

Life Inside The Womb by Wayne Rice

Mothers (a second poem) by Katie Bullock

Mother's Little Angel

Note: If you know if any of these poems are copyrighted (or know the author), please let me know.