I Thought I'd Ruined Mother's Day

I thought I'd ruined Mother's Day
the house was all a mess
the dished piled in the sink
I couldn't find my dress

I sat and ate my breakfast slow

determined to enjoy

the children gathered all around

my lap, their favorite toy

The time, I knew, was flying by

so much that needed done

we had to get to church on time

always this race to run

The baby's face was dirty

the toddler's diaper messed

the preschooler had a missing shoe

and his sister wasn't dressed

My daughters, who are twelve and nine

had helped their Dad make me

a breakfast so sweet and special

but there was no time for tea

The goat was waiting to be milked

the pigs, they needed fed

the chickens' eggs to be collected

and the teens were sleeping in

I sighed a sigh that was too loud

my son, he overheard

"take it easy Mom," was all he said

I uttered not a word

Just once I wanted it to be

the kind of day that I did well

without the missing shoes

the dirty faces, or the smells

Without the tangles in girls' hair

waiting to be brushed out

without the tantrums, chores, and sighs

rising tension in the air

At last we loaded up the van

abandoned shoes were found

the sweater I'd stood ironing

was finally coming 'round

And then I climbed into the van

and found awaiting there

messy faces all in smiles

and bows in tangled hair

My darlings, my loves, my reasons for being

how could I be so silly

to look upon the messes of life

as if they matter, really

I thought I'd ruined Mother's Day

with harsh words and impatient sighs

but my children must know the love I carry

so deep and full inside

Thank you Lord for children

for every dirty little mess

for tea that gets neglected

in search of each lost dress

Thank you for the love they share

for life, for fun, for me

I know these days will quickly pass-

please let me hang on and make them last-

for as long as time shall be

Elizabeth Sliwa

Mother's Day 2017

Elizabeth