Classic Children’s Poems: Pre-Teen Redux

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After a recent conversation with a close friend, we came to the conclusion that parenting our older kids isn’t easy. SURPRISE!!!

Sorry if that comes as a huge shock to those of you with younger kiddos, but, although your aching back and sleepless nights may disappear, other areas of life become more difficult. For instance, mind reading is a skill I’m currently trying to perfect.

All kidding aside, I started thinking the other day about how quickly the younger years of my kids’ lives have passed by. I instantly recalled a few sweet childhood poems that encapsulated perfectly the sweetness of those years and decided they needed to be rewritten for my pre-teen.

First is the original poetry followed by my revised versions. Enjoy!

fingerprints

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small,
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.
But everyday I’m growing,
I’ll be grown up someday,
And all these tiny handprints
Will simply fade away.
So here’s a final handprint
Just so you can recall,
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.

{Redux}

Sometimes I need encouraged
I don’t actually know it all,
I don’t like feeling ignorant,
So I try the ‘eyeroll’ and then a brawl.
But every day I’m stepping,
T’ward the man I want to be,
And all these tough encounters
Are your investment in the future me.
So trust your intuition,
Even if I pull away,
It’s these deposits that you’re making in me
That will guide me all the way.

∗∗∗

tentiny

Ten tiny fingers, that always want to play,
That never stop exploring that wonder of today,
Ten tiny fingers, that from the very start,
Will reach out for tomorrow yet always hold your heart.

{Redux}

Ten nail bitten finger-tips, texting throughout the day,
Typing, writing, competing, so many challenges come your way,
Ten man-boy fingers, that from this day on,
Will change the world and right the wrongs they’ll surely stumble upon.

∗∗∗

mywild

“You Are My I Love You” – Maryann K. Cusimano

I am your parent you are my child
I am your quiet place, you are my wild
I am your calm face, you are my giggle
I am your wait, you are my wiggle
I am your audience, you are my clown
I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down
I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice
I am your dandelion, you are my first wish
I am your water wings, you are my deep
I am your open arms, you are my running leap
I am your way home, you are my new path
I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath
I am your dinner you are my chocolate cake
I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake
I am your finish line, you are my race
I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace
I am your favourite book, you are my new lines
I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine
I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you

{“You Are My I Love You – Redux” – Marti Skow}

I will always be your momma, but you are no longer small,
I’ll always be “The Perfect Fan,” you’re becoming “The Boys of Fall”
I am your secret keeper, you’re a sharer on Instagram
I guide you toward a subtle ‘Yes,’ when your instinct is ‘No ma’am!’
I’m queen of second chances, you often take a third
I call you buddy, young man and friend, even when you are a turd
I swallow hard when you resist my touch, a fist bump is all you need
I ask you to make decisions slowly, you much prefer to speed
I am that voice nestled deep inside, you often pretend you’re deaf
I am the deliverer of balanced meals, you’d prefer a personal chef
I am the one beckoning, “GO TO BED!”, you are the resident owl
I am the tucker-in-of-kids, you want “goodnights” shouted from the hall
I am in bed and hear the beep, your thoughts are sweetest at nighttime texts
I say, ‘I love you bud, XOXO,’ you reply OXOX.

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Marti Skow
Marti Skow is a boy raising, homeschooling, picture taking, blog/song/poetry writing, husband loving, work from home graphic artist. She has learned to graciously thrive in a house full of boys, living a life precariously between wedgie wars and warrior training. Marti has written several worship songs with her husband Josh and describes writing and poetry as her form of “knitting.” Some of her favorite things are good coffee (spelled Smokey Row), historical fiction and breakfast foods…preferably enjoyed together. Marti’s desire is to see the world as God sees it and to love His people as He does. You can read more about Marti’s life with boys at www.betterbelieveit.wordpress.com.

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