Here we are again another fine Sunday,
The children are wanting to go out to play.
The sun it is shining, there is no sign of rain,
The children are now in the garden again.

So today was our 13 year anniversary,
Since the day we first met, daddy and me.
We met, had some drinks and dinner for two,
We changed from I and me, to me and you.

So today daddy has cooked dinner,
Vegetables, potatoes and pork are a winner.
The kids have been as difficult as always,
I ask them to read they tell me not today.

Here we are the weekend before the holidays,
Why will they not do as mum says?
A week to make memories, a week to explore,
Time to look after each other, not to be to hard to endure.

Today I have stood and completed the ironing,
We have clothes missing, mum doesn’t miss a thing.
For the clothes that are now left at school,
They will not be ready for the return of school rules.

The joys of being mum and the challenges of raising kids,
No longer reading books as you witness screaming fits.
Why don’t the kids just behave in the garden?
For the football is now next door and they are shouting.

So tomorrow what have I got planned?
Maybe a walk to town, try and keep the kids in hand.
For time in the town is not a walk in the park,
The demands and the naughtiness, shopping becomes a lark.

A walk to the town or a walk in the woods,
Trying to do what small children should.
The adventures we have and time together,
Supporting each other no matter what the weather.

Staying in and trying to create,
What can we make? What can we contemplate?
Building Lego, or doing colouring?
Or listening to Alexa and trying to sing.

The school holidays always bring a time for stress,
And as a mum, I always try my best.
Trying so hard to entertain them,
Boredom is hard work and adds to the tension.

So now we have a hat over the fence,
Daddy is out there with a stick, not a time for pretence.
The denial of how it actually went over,
The mind of a 7 year old, he is a good thrower.

The children are at least playing happily,
As my 5 year old stands laughing and clapping.
They really know how to make life harder.
As the fence has now had to be jumped over.

Kids can find fun in all that they do.
As mum sits and moans needing time for her too.
The constant demands and the endless questions,
The request for more food and frequent suggestions.

So here we are now and they are once again eating,
Cheese and crackers, having a meeting.
Sitting on the settee and munching away,
Being quiet before they go back to play.

I’ve said before I hate the IPad,
But it keeps them occupied, they are not sad.
Over the next week that device will be hidden,
Maybe they will then read or get some words written.

To be productive, some stories we could create,
As long as it doesn’t add more stress to mum’s plate.
The school holidays always require effort,
Never easy, but time goes to quickly!

Very soon the kids will be studying exams,
Then discussing their future plans.
So for now we really need to enjoy them,
As 5 and 7 we can not relive again.

This year now they will be 6 and 8.
Another year on, we could make it great.
So time to forget fear and stress,
To just carry on to try and do our best.

As parents we all love our children,
Wanting to always do what is best for them.
As parents we all need to work together,
To love and support and loving them forever.

So as a parent what do you think?
Do yours sometimes bring you to the brink?
Loving them so dearly but maybe needing a half term plan,
Not wanting the stress of last time to reign again.

For more see, Today was Wednesday poetry