They have grown up!

Nov10

When I want to go to bed before my kids
I know that they have grown up!

When Nicki can prepare a power point and I can’t
I know that he has grown up!

When Natalie can wear my clothes
I know that she has grown up

When Nicki can comfort me
I know that he has grown up

When he asks for an Ipod and laptop
I know that he thinks he has grown up!

When I realize Natasha is taller than me
I know that she has grown up

When she writes stories that are
More imaginative than mine
I know that she has grown up!

It seems like yesterday
When we brought them home from the hospital…
How quickly, they have grown up!

2009
Lida Berghuis

Things my kids say…

Nov10

Natasha, could you please clean your room
It’s been messy for a while
“But mom, I don’t need to
I like my room messy right now!
Tidiness is over rated
I can still find all the things I want
My clothes may be on the floor
But I can still find them and put them on”

How was school today, Natasha?
“I didn’t see any hippos in the hall”!
What was your favorite class today?
“Gym, then recess and then lunch!”

“Mommy, please don’t talk to me
I am thinking right now
Not, I don’t want to tell you what I’m thinking about
Can you leave me alone for a while?”

What a rough morning this is
You need to do your homework at night
Now, you are asking me to help you
But I have other things on my mind

“Mommy, you can’t complain
For this, you yourself signed up
No one made you have kids
Don’t ask for sympathy, right now”

“Mommy, can you make me lunch
And make me a good sandwich this time
I’m tired of bagel and cheese and ham
Could you find something else this time?
My friends bring these amazing things for lunch
And I get the same thing all the time
Could I please have some variety…”
Why don’t you make your own lunch!?

And so it goes
Each day something new
Children will always surprise you!

But I’m happy I signed up for this adventure
I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Lida Beghuis
January 28th, 2011

Lipstick blues…

Nov10

Mommy, do you have lipstick on?
Then no kisses
Just a hug!

If you kiss me with those red lips
I will have to wipe off
The lipstick!

Hugs I will give you gladly
But just one kiss
For me
Please!

But mommy
You have lipstick on
I can’t walk around
With a lipstick mark!

You are so yummy
Your hugs so sweet
But a kiss on your cheeks
I can’t resist!

I’ll wipe off the lipstick
I promise
Now can I have
My little kiss?

Lida Berghuis
June 28th, 2004

Puppy dog eyes…

Nov2

Puppy dog eyes
The look of adoration
That pleading look
The look of helplessness
Gentleness
Meekness
The look that says my happiness
Depends on you

Puppy dog eyes
Perfected by dogs
But equally as effective
For us humans
If used right

Puppy dog eyes
The look that says
I love you
I’ll be by your side
I’ll miss you when you’re gone
The look that says
I’ll give you comfort when you’re stressed
You can rub my tummy anytime you want
The look that says I’ll be your most loyal friend
All I need from you in return
Is a little love
My food on time
And my daily walk

Puppy dog eyes
Are not pushy or harsh
They are gentle and mild
Meek and kind
And that’s why it’s hard to say no
To puppy dog eyes…

Lida Berghuis
October 30th, 2013

Sit and stare…

Oct27

Today is a let’s not think day!
Let’s just be day!

Today, I feel tired
My brain needs a rest!

Today I do’t want to solve
The mysteries of the universe!
Today, I’m trying to be content to just sit and stare…

Tiredness is tolerable
If you don’t expect too much of yourself
Tiredness is OK if all you do is sit and stare…

But the problem is that I’m restless, impatient
And I get easily bored
I can’t just sit and stare…

My brain wants to be active
I like to learn, examine, discover, and express myself!
And when I’m tired
Everything comes to a stop and I feel constrained!

Today I need to be like Cashew
Our relaxed, chill dog
Who can sit and stare into space
For a long time…

Needless to say
I don’t understand Cashew’s ways
How she doesn’t get bored…
Nevertheless, today
The best thing to do is not to do much
Not to expect much
Not to complain so much…
Today, I will try to just sit and stare…
And recuperate…

Lida Berghuis
October 24th, 2013

Fire of trials…

Oct25

Can’t feel pain unless we step into the fire
Can’t burn the impurities off our soul
Can’t experience pain just looking at fire
Can’t understand pain intellectually, no!

Once heat has seared our skin
Once our soul has felt the heat of trials
We are transported somewhere else
A place that is hard to describe

But those who have been there can tell you
It is worth the pain, abundant the rewards

Lida Berghuis
October 25th, 2013

Pitter patter

Oct24

Sitting downstairs
I hear the pitter patter of little feet
Walking around

Pitter patter pitter patter
I must be quick
Pitter patter pitter patter
The morning is here

Pitter patter pitter patter
Let’s wake dad up
Pitter patter pitter patter
It’’s time to start

Pitter patter pitter patter
He comes down the stairs
Pitter patter pitter patter
Now, I can see his face

A bright little face
With a beautiful smile
That lights up the room
And warms my heart

The pitter patter
Has come to a stop
I ask for a hug
And his arms open wide

He envelopes me
In those little arms
He gives me a kiss
That melts my heart

These are the joys
Of having a child
These are the pleasures
Of being a mom!

Lida Berghuis
Sept. 18th, 2003

Exhaling…

Oct23

I inhale as I experience life
I exhale when I write

I inhale when I read
When I listen to other people
I exhale when I write

Writing, something my well-being depends on
Not writing, something I can’t think of

I inhale sadness, joyfulness, confusion, frustration
I exhale when I write

I inhale as I learn the lessons of life
I exhale when I write

Lida Berghuis
Oct. 16th, 2013

Poetry is a love song…

Oct20

Poetry is the essence of life
The things that count
The things that touch us, move us
Elevate us

Poetry is an emanation of the soul
Our essential self
Our eternal self
Our higher self

Poetry is about the intangible things
Love, compassion, curiosity

Poetry reaches where other things can’t
It penetrates our material shell
And illumines our inner self

Poetry is the expression of love
Love for the Divine
Love for our fellow man

Poetry is other-worldly
Magical, mystical, transformative

Poetry is beauty
A beauty that does not fade

Poetry is a love song

School of Mom…

Oct18

 

IMG_1652

Mothering is one of the best schools in life
Patience, selflessness, being organized
Being flexible, being inventive, and being kind
Only a few things taught in this school of life
Endurance, problem solving, and creativity are other ones

One has to meet many challenges head on

When I thought I could not wake up again
To a crying child
When problems used to confound me
And I had tried all I could try
I learned to persevere
To problem solve
To open my heart

But eventually I felt burnt out
Because I was last on my to-do-list
And the first to be crossed out due to lack of time
Because I didn’t know the importance of caring for myself
Because I confused it with selfishness

Eventually it occured to me
That to be a good caregiver
I needed to care for myself
I needed an avenue for self expression
I needed a creative outlet

And I realized that
There will never be enough time
There are always things to be done
And that I needed to be an non-negotioable item
On my to-do-list
Not one that woud be crossed out

It’s counter-intuitive but it works
Because when I take care of myself
I can be a better mom!

Lida Berghuis
October 15th, 2013