Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Gardening With Toddlers


It seemed a good idea, I thought
                Some hours in the yard.
The winter months had been so long
                And I felt the need of working hard.

So armed with gloves and rakes and things,
                I started out the door.
Trailed by two toddlers
                Who loved to help with Gramma’s chores.

Things went well for a tic or two,
                As Gramma started in,
The girls spun circles in the yard
                Till Linney fell and bumped her chin.

A kiss and cuddle, tears were gone
                It really wasn’t hard.
I set her down and looked to see
                That Hazel’d wandered from the yard.

She’d not gone far, I scooped her up
                And carried her back home.
Then penned them both behind the gate,
                And told them sternly ‘not to roam’.

While toddlers watched, I grabbed my rake,
                But got no further then,
‘Cause Hazel shrieked; I had to run
                She’d fallen in the mud . . . again.

I fished her out and cleaned her off,
                A kiss and all was well,
Then turned just as another shriek,
                Told me Lin was stuck as well.

I’m sure by now you’ve realized
                I didn’t manage much.
With Lin caught in the tramp’line springs
                And Hazel eating chalk and such.

Four trips to bathroom, ‘Pee, potty now!’
                And squabbles over things,
And pouring sand in someone’s hair,
                And all the angst that action brings.

Searching the yard from stem to stern
For Linney’s missing shoe,
Then doing the whole thing o'er again
                Cause Hazel’s hat was ‘somewhere’, too.

With helping up and helping down
                And watching in between.
It’s no wonder that my work just sat,
                With little progress to be seen.

Last night when all were sound asleep
                And peace had been restored,
I looked out the window there,
                And sang my praises to the Lord.

For though my tools were strewn about
And no sign of success,
My time was so well spent, because
                Two little girls, my day did bless.

12 comments:

  1. You are one patient grandma.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I can totally see it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ah, but you are growing children, and that's the best garden there is ...

    Love the verse!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I love that! Growing children, the best garden there is! Perfect!

      Delete
  4. Gee, sister, you are a poet and you wouldn't know it...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sweetness abounds here. Loved "Two little girls, my day did bless." Keep writing and I'll be here living vicariously.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awe... I love the last line Diane. So sweet about having spent a better day with the girls:)

    ReplyDelete

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