before you say "good night"...

for the kids...

before you say good night

before that last kiss

before that cool sheet

is tucked within

before you say

"i love you"

do you know?

how their day went

what their memories of this day was

how they will remember you

on this day

did you spend some time with them

play games or dolls with them

did you talk to them

really talk?

did you hug them enough

did you kiss them enough

did you say something

that may have hurt them?

or were you too busy

doing dishes

doing laundry

cooking supper

paying bills?

did you take a moment out

to get lost in those innocent eyes

listen to those wondrous queries?

how will they remember

this day

before you tuck them in

say "good night"

kiss with an "i love you"

before you say

"good night"....

Author's Note

one night, after the kids went to bed i reflected on the day...not once...did i ask them about their day, did i tell them i loved them, did i sit and talk or play with them. my youngest had asked me earlier if i would sit and color with her and i said "daddy's busy, gotta mow the lawn." when i finished, there was a beautiful picture drawn with innocent hands of me mowing the lawn. as parents, we have several moments when we wish we could turn back the clock.

Reviews

[.]

oh a little lump of guilt in the throat - yes we sometimes forget the truly beautiful blessing we have been given when we get caught up in the humdrum of life..this my friend is food for thought and humbly take your comments on board and this is going in favourites as a reminder :)

[Aven]

this... is... so important... wonderful, sweet, loving poem which gives an honest insight to parenting... your author's note really struck a chord with me... beautiful :)

[tizzy k]

i like this one

[David W Moore III]

this is so true, we grownups get so caught up in the 'real world' that we forget their world, and while it is a beautiful world, it is also a fragile world. Strengthen it daily, and watch it flourish.

[heich]

aww...i swallowed my saliva...guilty..

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

you're an exceptional father~

[Fran Marie]

a lovely piece...expressed soo nicely and well penned

[Michael of Gilead]

Maybe so Brad, but you can't be everything to everyone all the time...you can only try your best....obviously they have some understanding as well.

[Robin]

a wake up call for good nights

It's the little moments.