In honor of Mother’s Day, and mothers everywhere, we’ve decided to put together something special – A Month of Mothering.
We’ll be posting frequently – short poems, guest posts by mothers and sons and daughters, and a few other goodies. We welcome contributions: an essay, a poem, a picture, or anything that speaks to mothers. Please email megan @ theotherbabybook.com with your pieces. No need to be a certain “type” of mom – we’re celebrating mothers from all walks of life.
To kick off, here’s a poem that speaks to the work of a mother. Though the poem is widely circulated, the author is unknown.
What Did I Do Today?
Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those windowpanes
Will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?
I held a baby till she slept,
I held a toddler while he wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess that’s true.
Unless you think that what I’ve done,
Might be important to someone
With deep green eyes and soft brown hair,
If that is true… I’ve done my share.
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