Monday, June 19, 2017

Wisdom Wednesdays - Children Grow Up



When my children were growing up, I had a decorative plaque on the wall that read:

Cleaning and dusting can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up we learn to our sorrow.

This quote was a guiding light for me in my house-keeping / cleaning routines.  It reminded me that my children were more important than a spotless home.  Yes, our home was clean, but I was not a neat freak as some of my friends were.  I've even quoted the saying to other mothers to remind them to keep priorities straight.

I did not know, until this week, that this quote was part of a poem:


Children Grow Up 

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a 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 as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

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 her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.

~Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Isn't it a lovely poem?  I wasn't looking for it, but stumbled across it on another blog.  I'm so glad I did because I will treasure it, 

The days of childhood are so short.  Think of it, Gail-Friends, childhood is only ten to twelve years.  These are golden, precious years to enjoy their sweet kisses and hugs.  Ten to twelve short years to play together and be as silly as you want to be.  I look back on those days of my daughters lives as the most wonderful days of my entire life.

I remind you, young mothers, you will have decades to pursue your own interests or to have a career.  Treasure and make the most of the lovely days of baby and childhood because you'll have so many lovely memories to look back on.

As a grandmother, I'm now treasuring the childhood days of my grandson and enjoying every minute with him.  It's hard to believe he's going on eight years old because the years has gone by blindingly fast.  I'm trying not to blink because he'll be graduating college before I know it.
Jem & me with him at the pumpkin patch in 2009.

Out to eat together on Mother's Day 2017


Every day is precious, Gail-Friends.  Make the most of it

Blessings,
GG




~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       Modest Mom Monday Link-up      
   Growing Homemakers Link-Up      BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 

22 comments:

  1. So true Gail. Our oldest grandson turns 17 today, and the youngest is 8. We find ourselves asking "Where has the time gone?" a lot! Thanks for sharing this lovely poem.

    ~Christie

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  2. Thanks for stopping by today, Christie, and come back by soon.
    Blessings
    GG

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  3. 10-12 years; your numbers are really quite accurate. We think we have 18 years, but those last few teenage years are such a blur. :) Thanks for the reminder to always slow down to notice the people in our lives. Times are always changing and we never know what the future holds.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Lisa. That's why my motto is "Every day is precious"
      Blessings,
      GG

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  4. I've already commented on this blog post (which I love), but I wanted to thank you for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty!

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  5. Our babies do grow up way too fast. One reward though is our grandbabies. Thank you Gail for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I pinned this post. Do get you some Facebook, Google+, and Twitter share buttons installed so we can share there too :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, the grands are the best part.
      Good thought, Dee. I'll check into that.
      Blessings,
      GG

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  6. I agree with your other readers. Our children do grow so fast (even when other things seem to go much slower)! Thank you for sharing this #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty.

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  7. What a lovely poem and yes our children and grandchildren grow up too quickly. I would much rather have dust and spend time with my grandson that is for sure. Thanks so much for sharing your post with us at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty I have shared on social media. Have a great week and see you at next week’s link up! Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty & Beyond
    http://www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au

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    Replies
    1. My pleasure, Sue, and thanks for sharing my post.
      Blessings,
      GG

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  8. You are so right. My daughter and my grandchildren grew up oh so fast! Thanks for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty.

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  9. Oh so true and what a sweet poem! Thank you for sharing at ‪#BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty‬

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  10. I like the poem you found. When you're a young mother up to your neck in laundry and housework, you thing the work will never end. Then -- when the kids are grown and out on their own, you miss them so much. I have grandchildren between the ages of 19 and 3, so I've discovered that grandchildren grow up amazingly fast, too. I treasure my time with the little ones, now.
    Thank you for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I’m sharing your link on social media.
    Carol ("Mimi") from Home with Mimi

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mimi Carol. Enjoy those grands and don't blink!
      Blessings,
      GG

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  11. When all of your children are grown, you definitely realize how quickly it happens. In a blink of an eye. I am enjoying my grandchildren so much and treasure my time with them. I've never read that entire poem either, but I really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing with us at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty!

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  12. Yes, grands are the icing on the cake! Thanks for stopping by, and come again soon.
    Blessings,
    GG

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Thank you so much for stopping by today and taking the time to leave a comment! I read each one of them and love to respond back to those who visit! Blessings to you.