Author: Rebecca Cuneo Keenan

DAILY SNACK

Every time I need to take a phone call,

Without fail,

The children turn from their quiet play,

And need my attention immediately.

“Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom!”

“I’m sorry. Can you hang on for a moment. What is it Colum?”

“I’m eating like a lemur!”

Well, that certainly couldn’t wait.

And then the little miss starts in,

Toddling up to my knees with arms outstretched,

Grunting and whining,

And then finally throwing herself on the ground in a fit.

Once I get off the phone, of course,

They don’t need me at all.

DAILY SNACK

When one-year-olds without an older sibling

Gets their toy snatched away from them,

They cry.

When a one-year-old with an older sibling

Sees her brother coming toward her,

She takes off running in the other direction.

Because she knows all is fair game

When Mom isn’t paying attention.

Atta girl.

DAILY SNACK

I was bring Colum out a pair of socks this morning,

When Irene pointed at them,

And very clearly and deliberately said,

“Ock.”

“That’s right, Irene,” I said,

“Socks. Very good job, Irene.”

“Mom,” Colum chimed in,

“She said popcorn!”

Oh, my mistake.

Sorry baby girl,

But no matter how close you come to getting it right,

Your big brother will call you out on your mistakes.

That’s life.

DAILY SNACK

We had a bit of a moment this morning,

While I was trying to get us dressed and out to the library.

Irene was demanding to be held at all times,

And Colum was running around,

And hiding,

And refusing to even try to dress himself.

So I yelled

And wrestled a sweater on over his head.

And he cried hard.

We finally got it together and were on our way

When I stopped.

I paused on the sidewalk to give my son a hug.

I told him I was sorry for yelling and losing my temper.

“And I’m sorry, Mom, for crying,” he said,

“Sometimes kids and parents need to learn to calm down.”

My heart melted.

“Hey! Cal-m down and Colum rhyme!”

Well, kinda.