July 10

Goodnight

Mum, I’ll bring back a kiss for you,
Once I’ve brushed my teeth till they’re sharp and new.

Then off to the toilet, goodnight to Ted
And a bedtime story from Dad.

A glass of water, one last play with my toys
What’s that on tele? – it’s my favourite ad.

I’m feeling hungry, can I have a snack?
Oops better brush my teeth once more.

Look I fell over today and hurt my knee,
Can I have a band-aid for the sore?

Is that the lot? Is there something I missed?
Is there something I haven’t done?

Hey wait a minute I can’t go to bed yet,
I need a cuddle with my Mum!

“My patience, resolutions and beliefs are tested to the limits – sometimes daily.”^*

Right at this moment one of my challenges is the constant, tuneless whistling from my elder son. When my boys were babies it was getting them to sleep or trying to figure out why they were crying. On any given day now, it might be squabbling, fighting, teasing, screaming, shouting or rudeness. Who’d be a parent? We might well question ourselves after the event, but we can’t very well put them back! Just how we find those inner resources, how we constantly demand more of ourselves, how we keep marching up that hill with a smile on our face and gladness in our heart at the sight of our ‘babies’ is one of life’s mysteries.

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