Motherhood
The best school in life
The lessons we learn are invaluable
Motherhood
Not always easy
But it changes us in ways that are unimaginable
Motherhood
Commitment to our little ones
Putting their needs first
Motherhood
Teaches us lessons in
Perseverance and patience
Motherhood
Our chance to train the next generation
Dear mom,
I want to thank you…
I want to thank you
For the sleepless nights you soothed me back to sleep
When I was just born
For giving up your freedom, after that, to do what you want
When you want
For giving me the best education possible
For teaching me English from early on
For being a courageous woman in your own time
For showing me that in groups women can be in charge
For the difficult days you experienced
When I first fell in love
For your support to carry on
For being a good grandmother
Keeping your grandchildren in your
Heart from afar
For all the delicious home-cooked meals
Prepared with love
For instilling in me the love of traveling
For letting me go when it was my time to fly
For all the prayers you have said
From the depth of your heart
For all the sorrows you have endured
For encouraging me in my pursuit of poetry
For understanding my love for this art
And finally, dear mom
I want to thank you simply
For being my mom!
January 23rd, 2016
What do you say to an employer when you want to
Reenter the workforce, the paid workforce?
What do you put down for those years in your CV?
Here’s an idea:
Skills developed: management, organization, problem solving skills
Research, conflict resolution, and thinking on your feet!
Interpersonal qualities honed: listening skills, perseverance, assertiveness
being open to learning, patience, and compassion to name a few
Skills that will make you a wonderful team player at work
Which employer would not like this?
Which employer would think that you have ‘lost’ those years
Or put your personal development on hold?
Which employer would not want someone who has
Learned how to prioritize, analyze and sympathize?
And at the same time, you have nurtured and trained
the next generation to the best of your ability
So, next time someone asks you what happened during
Those years and that time
Tell them you were mothering and in the meantime
Doing continuing education in the fields above!
Lida Berghuis
January 6th, 2014
Take a minute to be silly
You can still be silly you know!
Procrastinate a little bit
It’s OK to miss a deadline once in a while!
Let the dishes pile up
The world won’t fall apart!
Watch a movie instead of paying the bills
Tomorrow is another day!
Don’t feel like cooking tonight?
Take out was made for a reason!
Even responsible people need to have some fun
Goof off, forget things, mess up!
No one can be together all the time!
There are times for being organized
On time and efficient
And there are times for being less than perfect
Life goes on
We put so much pressure on ourselves
We want to do everything right
We want to be there for everyone
And sometimes we forget that the world
Can go on without us for a while
Lida Berghuis
November 28, 2013
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 cant
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
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
Lets 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
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
lida's musings 