If you can keep your head when all about you
Are screaming theirs off and baying for milk,
If you can trust yourself when health visitors doubt you,
But make allowance for their well meaning too;
If you can get up for the ninth time and not moan about waking,
Or being weed upon, don’t make a fuss,
Or having sick in your bra, don’t give way to quaking,
And still try to look good, though your can’t do your jeans up:
If you can dream— hurray, you’re getting more sleep!;
If you can think— after one or more children;
If you can meet with Triumph and Tantrums
And treat those inevitabilities just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve uttered
Twisted by your kids to make a trap for you,
Or watch the child you gave life to, stutter,
And stoop and pick ’em up with worn-out arms:
If you can talk with mums and compare pelvic floors,
Or walk with kids — nor forget the changing bag,
If neither forks nor thrown food can hurt you,
If you can hug someone, when things feel too bad;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of laundry folded,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Mum, my friend!
With thanks and apologies to Rudyard Kipling.
Great read! Wise words
Fola lewis recently posted…Bargain buy of the week! #1
Thanks Fola!
This is lovely to read as I have another rough night with two slightly under weather children one who hardly sleeps as it is! Thank you x
Hannah cupcake mumma recently posted…Dear So and So
Oh no, sorry to hear that – hope they feel better soon! x
Yes! Just lovely Jess. If we can pick them up in our arms, the earth is ours… so true x
Kiran recently posted…The forms are filled, the deposit is paid…
Thanks Kiran – our arms will never tire of picking them up. Sob! xx
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
Fantastic, Jess, simply fantastic! Even as a dad, this has put a massive smile on my face this morning.
Tim recently posted…Wednesday Words of Wisdom: A voice, not an echo
You are too kind, Tim! Obviously I mean it for dads too, but it would have been a bit of a mouthful.
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
LOVE LOVE LOVE this you clever cookie #sharewithme
Thanks Talya, that is so nice of you to say.
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
Brilliant Jess, this is just lovely and clever xxx thanks for sharing #sharewithme
Alexandra @dontcallmestepmummy recently posted…7 Steps to Simplify Your Life
Thanks Alexandra! Kipling should take all the credit though.
Brilliant Jess! I think you’ve improved on Rudyard there (but I may be biased) 🙂 X
Sam recently posted…The Truth about… #28
Thanks Sam! I think he’d be turning in his grave, rest his soul! x
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
Fantastic! I don’t think Rudyard Kipling would need to forgive you for that!
Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…The Gallery: A favourite place
Ah, that’s so kind of you to say, Sarah. x
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
Absolutely brilliant, as always lovely. That’s brought a big smile to my face xx
Mummy Tries recently posted…How Happy Are You With Your Body?
Glad to make you smile, Renee! xx
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
Brilliant! And says it all, really. xx
Morgan Prince recently posted…My Top 5 TV Dads
Thanks Morgan! xx
Wry Mummy recently posted…Paintbrushes Are For Fools #WickedWednesdays #9
Oh how I loved this – one of my fav poems… bettered! Would love you to link this up over at #sharethejoy on Monday if you fancy it and thank you for the lovely comment over at my place honey x
Michelle Reeves (Bod for tea) recently posted…Going with the Flow and rediscovering myself in Provence
Oh thanks Michelle – I certainly don’t think it’s bettered though! I’d love to link it up, will set a reminder for Monday. Thanks lovely! xx
Well I definitely LOVE your version – thanks so much for linking up at #sharethejoy x
Michelle Reeves (bodfortea) recently posted…Share the Joy linky #21
Thanks Michelle, that’s so kind of you to say. Will look forward to joining in again. x
So flattered to be featured by one of my favourite bloggers. Thank you, and thanks for your kind words, Tim!
Hehe awesome! Made me smile =)
Jenni – Odd Socks and Lollipops recently posted…Silent Sunday 7th June 2015
Thanks Jenni! x
Wry Mummy recently posted…No Bare Bums On The Sofa! The *Real* House Rules
This is brilliant! I wish I was talented enough to come up with stuff like this! #sharethejoylinky
Silly Mummy recently posted…Five and a Half Ways The Baby is a Big Disappointment to The Toddler
I think Kipling’s is all the glory here! But thank you.
I loved the original and I love this more #sharethejoy xxxxxx
Mummy Fever recently posted…The distracted mummies guide to hydration
Ah, thanks so much!xxx
I need to take a lesson out of this line up. I am just a shouty mommy or a mommy in a hurry lately. I need to slow down and pay attention more to the little things. lol If for moms is great hun. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted…Advice to my children
Thanks Jenny! It’s so hard to not rush through life… x
I love this take on a classic poem – what a brilliant way to sum up the ups and downs of motherhood. Love the lines about filling the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of laundry folded – oh yes, can definitely relate to that! 🙂
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted…The Friday Focus 12/06/15
Thanks so much for featuring me, Louise! x
LOVE this Jess! (I know I’m late to the party as you wrote it weeks ago but better late than never!) Off to share… xx
This is so lovely!!! It reminds me that even on the days I’ve struggled my role as mummy (and daddy) is not only important but so worthwhile and that I’m doing a great job!! As are we all! Doing the best that we can!! I have lots of the things you mentioned still to come!! Thank you for making me smile!! Xxxx
Helen (JMAndMPLL) recently posted…An Odd Feeling!
Thanks so much Helen, pleased to give you a smile. xx
It’s 5am here and I’ve been up for almost an hour with smallest one – thanks for the chuckle to start the day 🙂
Thanks lovely – sorry to hear you’ve been up for so long though!