Thought and Poem

Thought and Poem – August 28, 2014

Ahhh, can you feel it? Can you hear it? What is this “it?” “It” is the freedom and silence that comes each fall when our children go back to school! Let’s say it together….ahhh!

I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression as I do love my children then and now, but remembering way back when, when my children were younger I must tell you there was some amount of joy that came when they left after the long summer for their first day back at school.

I can remember the silence. Mind you, I already wear hearing aids, but that is beside the point as I clearly remember basking in the silence surrounding me. Once I sat in my chair, got all comfy with my feet up I would begin to soak it all in. The silence was golden! I didn’t think life could get any better than this.

I made a mental note to put a canister of chocolate something on the table next to my special chair. I would also need to put my emergency box of Twinkies under the chair and glue the TV remote control next to the canister. Having full control with the children in school, I could now watch ANYTHING I could eat all the chocolate candies too if I wanted. Oh how I used to enjoy the small moments of freedom I was afforded until they came rushing back through the front door when school let out. You must forgive me but I need to ask, “Was this sinful?”

What about you? Is there a back-to-school ritual that you do to celebrate your hidden joys when your children leave for their first day of the new school year? Don’t be shy…share your thoughts with us…Jeanne Claire Probst

Here We Go Again!

I cleaned my house today

The children are back in school…H U R R A Y!

Quick lock all the doors, don’t let anyone in,

Because if you do – well – this is how the messes begin!

You sit in your chair admiring the cleanliness

And you can’t get over how things get to be such a mess.

You pour a cup of tea to go with your Twinkies

And you bask in the quiet and stillness and the feelings that come with being free.

Then not long after, the kids come home,

But never do they come home alone.

Their friends come in too,

And now my house which I had just cleaned looks like a zoo!

Back packs here, coats and sweaters there,

Books, and ipods, ipads are lying around everywhere.

Can we have a snack will be their next command.

And wouldn’t you know it, onto the clean floor all the crumbs land!

Quick, get me out of here I feel like I can’t breathe.

My chest muscles are spastic and I feel like I am being squeezed.

Having to clean the house again…is going to make me angry.

I quickly need to find a way for my misery and frustrations to be safely released.

Relax dear, say my friend, it is not a heart attack.

You must stay calm….no fighting back!

Go to your room and close the door,

Secure it by putting something in front of it on the floor.

Then put on some light music and maybe a candle or two,

When someone comes to the door and wants you….don’t respond no matter what you do!

They got along all day at school without you…

They can survive whatever problem they are having now too!

Get under the covers and read a good book,

Or do something with the knitting needles or crochet hooks.

And if you can stay in your room until you are old and gray…

You might as well dream on and hope that they will all go away!

Don’t come out of your room until all is quiet again.

But be prepared that when you do… that you will need to do some cleaning.

Start with the dishes, then do the floors, and take the trash outside;

Grab a coffee to calm your nerves; it may help you not to cry!

Jeanne Claire Probst