Friday, January 9, 2009

If I Had My Child to Raise All Over Again

I ran across this poem the other day and I wanted to share. I love it because it inspires me to do the things that are most important and to worry less about the things that don't matter. It summarizes perfectly what my goal is as a mother this year (and always). I'm already realizing how quickly they grow up and I want to be a mother without any regrets. Here's the poem...

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

~Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again"

6 comments:

Angela said...

What a great poem- I think I'll go read to Sophie right now! Thanks for the inspiration!

DIY REDS! said...

I was just thinking about the same thing today. That is a great poem. i think that is my #1 goal too.
amy

Annalee Kelly said...

Sigh... That is just what I have been thinking and feeling in my own life. Thank you for sharing!
I love that.

Slim said...

This was awesome to read! That is exactly how I feel and I'm sure that most moms feel. The key is to figure out how to do it. Thanks for posting that. It inspired me...

Sharee said...

Thanks for the poem. I realized the other day that I haven't been enjoying Ryker's childhood as much as I told myself I would (before he was born). What a great reminder. I think I might print something like this poem out and stick it on my fridge.

MadMadameMim said...

I needed that, thank you.