Ten children, nine days, 1 dog, and
a spinster:
It sounds like some dumb Lifetime
movie.
But this was real life, and while
certainly hard,
The experience mostly was groovy.
The kids are amazing; they’re
helpful and sweet—
My wonderful nephews and nieces.
But if you’re like me, without kids
of your own,
Handling 10 can reduce you to
pieces.
It’s 10 little lives all dependent
on you!
It’s 10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10
dinners!
It’s Cub Scouts and dance class,
voice lessons and B-ball.
It is simply not made for
beginners!
There’s homework to check, school
projects to do.
There’s housework and cleaning,
dog-walking.
There’s family prayer, and bedtime
routines.
For 10 kids! The commitment is
shocking.
And let’s face it, this family is
not quite the norm.
It’s not just 10 kids you are
facing.
It’s all kids of special
requirements and needs
That those watching them must be
embracing.
From blindness to wheelchairs and
Soph without arms.
And really, it’s all quite amazing.
But this family just works as they
all help each other.
These kids, I’ll forever be
praising.
So yes, it is work, and yes, it’s
exhausting,
And yes, my feet hurt every
evening.
And yes, I admit as the days
counted down,
I was not so depressed to be
leaving.
Back to my life of my sweet
spinsterhood!
Back to no kids and to quiet.
Back to a full DVR and my bed.
Away from the racket and riot!
And yet…those sweet children, they
enter your heart.
And quickly, quite quickly, you
miss it.
You’re missing the racket and riot
and work.
You’re missing the time of your
visit.
Because you discover, while caring
for them,
That your trials in this life are
tiny.
To complain about trivial problems
you face
Just seems awfully silly and whiny.
And you miss all the hugs that
those children give out.
And you miss all the smiles and
kisses.
And you miss the cute things that
the little ones say.
There’s a long list of the things
this Miss misses!
And so, I will do it again, I am
sure,
Giving Christi and Jer a vacation.
‘Cuz they do this all YEAR, each
day in, each day out.
With barely a moment’s cessation.
So I’ll sign up again and be happy
to help.
And I’ll go and play “Mom” at my
best.
Just maybe don’t ask me for
several months
‘Cuz I’m still catching up on my
rest!
Jennifer
