REAL POEMS FOR REAL MOMS - WEEK 1 PGS. 1-20

REAL POEMS FOR REAL MOMS by Rachel S. Donahue

Well dear Mommas, I don't know about you, but as I read these poems the floodgates of my mind swing open and the memories rush in faster and stronger than a river that's been rained in for a week straight. They wash over me, and I bask in the sweetness of the days that have gone by too quickly. It's going to be so hard for me to pick 2 or 3 poems each week, because I could wax lyrical about them all! What a blessing to have this treasure chest inside where each memory is worth so much more than the most costly ruby. So mommas, whether you are surrounded by littles grabbing your legs right now, or watching as your biggers are stretching their wings and taking first fluttery flights on their own, or you are surrounded by quiet rooms most of the time until you hear the sound of a car and then suddenly the house is filled with your children and their children for a long overdue visit, sit back a few moments and steep in the memories of what God called you to.

My first pick has to be "On Blueberries." To start this reminiscing I really have to go back to my childhood, and the blueberries my Swedish grandfather grew in Michigan that were a throwback to his childhood growing up in the UP. Claire, especially, was my blueberry eater as a toddler. As a mom just figuring things out with her first child, I let her eat tons of them, sometimes with dire consequences later when changing time came! When she was two and Lauren 6 months old, we built our home in the country and happily discovered a berry farm just down the road from us. During the summer we spent hours picking there. With each baby that arrived, I would settle them on a blanket under the shade of the bushes surrounded by books and toys, and the older kids and I would grab buckets and pick away. Then back home we'd go to enjoy our harvest and, at least once during the season, the reading of Blueberries for Sal. Over time we planted our own bushes and even now during harvest season, we all spend hours out in the sun picking the delicious bounty. There is the occasional berry that comes flying from nowhere bouncing off my head. When I look up there's my son grinning at me. Yes, I had to start with the blueberries.

"Boy Sonnet" - I have one son smashed in the middle of four girls. I told him that after birthing three girls, I was sure that number four was also a girl. When the doctor announced it was a boy, I told him jokingly that I asked "what do you do with a boy" since I had never experienced one. (That was just a joke as I grew up with a brother and so did my husband.) My son longed for a brother, but was extra blessed when his younger sister arrived to now be surrounded by 5 mothers.  Boy does Donahue hit the nail right on the head in this one! As mommas we do have big dreams about the kind of men our sons will one day be. I can talk all day long with him about character, work ethic, the importance of becoming a Godly man, etc (and those things are very important), but if I want to truly meet him as a person, I must meet him where his interests lie. That doesn't necessarily mean that I play video games with him, because all truth be told, I'm not much of a gamer, but I give him some space in his areas. I support him in his interests and let him know that I see all of him as important.

My last pick will be the "Diaper Haikus." Oh my goodness, Mommas. We've all been there, haven't we! I just roll with laughter when I read these! I've had some diaper changing experiences that bordered on an Amazon jungle adventure where I was blazing a trail. One of my children had one particular outfit they received as a shower gift that they wore 5 times. 4 out of the 5 times they had major blow outs in it, and it was the kind of outfit that had to be pulled off over the head. The first time it happened was at church. I can still remember looking at all the poop and just wondering where in the world to start. Needless to say I stripped the baby completely down and rinsed them off in the bathroom sink. After four go arounds, the little outfit was officially retired!

I hope you enjoyed your Week One reading. My biggest problem with this book is going to be word counts on Facebook posts!  I'm looking forward to your thoughts!