Being Mommy

I have spent time reflecting on the wonders of motherhood lately, I love being mom to my sons. I know that I have talked about my children on several occasions here, but I cannot help myself. They are an enormous part of who I am and who I will become. As they grow and change I also grow and change.
By no means do I mean to say that I am comprised of mostly my "mommy" characteristics, I only mean to say that being mom to two boys has made up a great deal of who I have become.
I was initially a bit wary of raising a boy, since I had spent most of my life until my son's birth around girls. I am the oldest of three girls and of eight grandchildren on my mother's side, there were only two boys. So, when my bouncing baby boy came into my life I was, understandably, slightly overwhelmed by the task before me.
That being said, I have settled into this role I have been placed into and I love my boys like nothing else in this world. I cannot imagine my life without them in it.
A while back I wrote this poem for my youngest son, whom I have found the most challenging in temperament, and whom I often find myself most frustrated with, but I love him no less than his older brother. Honestly, his ability to challenge me is good for me and forces me to find new ways to approach parenting and exercise patience.
So now that I have rambled on about being a mom and my fabulous sons I will move on to the end and give you the poem. Please, enjoy and have a blessed day!

For My Son

He chases dandelion fluff,
He dances with bubbles in the air.
He chases his hero, his knight so tough,
with sunlight shinning in his hair.
With dimples dancing upon his cheeks,
sparkles glinting within his eyes,
and a mouth from which laughter leaks
he plays as if he owns the skies.
So, keeping my little love from harm,
I watch all around,
for danger coming from up afar
to that which may strike from the ground.
All the while he plucks flowers of yellow
and plays with every bug,
thinking them funny fellows.
Oh, my child, my child, my precious dear,
how I love you so!
I'll revel in your smiles so dear
and watch you as you grow.
-Constance

Christmas Magic

I have spent the past few days baking and making candy in preparation for next week's festivities. I love baking and making sweets, but this is the only time of year I truly allow myself to indulge in doing so. I am joined in the kitchen sporadically by my eldest son, who seems to believe that every step of making these things is endlessly fascinating.
This awe and curiosity reminds me of being a child and watching my mother bake cookies and getting in her way in an attempt to understand how she was doing it. I was convinced my mother worked magic at one point. She was a sorceress of the kitchen, magically taking things like flour and butter and sugar and making beautiful, scrumptious things! It was amazing!
Of course, now I know what is going on in the theater of my childhood magic show. I am the sorceress, transforming and entrancing. I had forgotten how fantastic it all is until I watched Caleb learn to mix dough, decorate a cookie, melt butterscotch, and sample the product of his work and diligence. This is my Christmas magic moment.
So, here is a brief poem that I composed to attempt to convey that feeling, the warmth and affection, involved in cooking in the kitchen in preparation for Christmas fun.


Magic

Sugar and vanilla.
Peppermint and chocolate.
Flour and butter.
Childhood memories,
Kitchen magic.
Warmth and laughter.

Messy hands.
Ruffled aprons.
Christmas carols.
Baking smells.
Smiling eyes.
Laughing smiles.
Kitchen magic.
Christmas magic.
Love's magic.
-Constance

little boys and their joys.

I am the blessed mother of two fantastic (in my humble opinion) little boys, of 7 and 2. This comes, like most things  in life, with rewards and drawbacks. There are many days that the drawbacks seem to far outweigh the rewards, but as the majority of mothers out there will tell you, it's worth it. A toddler especially likes to test the limits of one's sanity, on an hourly basis usually.
I am reminded of these joyous rewards when I hold one of my precious boys and they smile back at me without hesitation. Pure happiness in a single facial expression and I am reassured of my place in the world. Those gorgeous blue eyes and bright little smiles make my heart swell with pure, unadulterated love.
So, I true to wrote a poem to embody this phenomenal depth of emotion. It fails, of course, to capture the depth of feeling I want to convey, but I simply couldn't ignore the urge to attempt it. I hope despite its shortcomings, you enjoy the sentiment behind the piece.

Ode to My Boys

This is my love,
Tangled up in your eyes.
Childish joy I see
Is your toothy smile.
Magnificent blue
Reflecting my joy.
Precocious little boy.

You drive me mad,
Straight up the wall.
No matter the crazy
Still, I love it all.
The tears and pain,
They make the joy sharp.
Laughter sounding like a harp.
-Constance

For your children.

What wouldn't we do for our children? I know that I would do a whole lot for my little one and I know many other parents who feel the same. I've been trying to figure out where to go with the first stanza of this poem for over a month. I knew where I wanted it to go, but I couldn't find the words. I mean this is about protecting your child as much as possible and at the same time letting them go when you must and hoping they will be all that they were meant to and learn to live up to all of their potential. I suppose there are other angles you could take on this, but I wrote it as a mother to her child. Feel free to take it how you see it though. It never says anything specific about mother or child. I do hope that you enjoy it though.

To Fly. To Soar.

You are stalked by sin.

Danger wants to win.

Looking over your shoulder

Lurking things there in secrets and lies.

Light illuminating the strands that tie

Soul to body, body to earth.

I’ll be the shield against the temptation.

Be the danger that danger fears.

Reveal the secrets and lie's secrets.

Cut the strings that tie you down.

Free you from stony ground.

Watch your flight begin.

Watch you fly out to the sky.

Show the world your soul.

Illuminate the shadows with your smile.

Vanquish your enemies with light.

Become all that you were meant to.

Grow into the gifts given you.

Don’t just learn to fly so high.

I hope someday you soar.

-Constance