Twas a few days before Christmas, and all through the house
\nThe children were running, their usual carouse.
\nThe furniture and floors had been cleaned up with care;
\nIn hopes that somehow no messes they’d bear.<\/p>\n
Ornaments were nestled into the tree and spread
\nIn hopes that the children carefully would tread.
\nThe weather to us was a little cold snap
\nMeaning rain on the window barely did tap.<\/p>\n
Then in the living room there arose so much chatter
\nI left my computer to see what was the matter.
\nMuch as the children might want me to dash
\nI knew it was just another childhood clash.<\/p>\n
The lights on the tree quickly did show
\nThe contested toy that someone did throw.
\nThe mess no surprise that it should appear;
\nThough my hope for otherwise had been so sincere.<\/p>\n
Holiday tempers can flare so very quick
\nThe tension between them soon grew quite thick.
\nMore rapid than usual, the quarrels they came;
\nWith tugging and shouting and calling a name.<\/p>\n
“That’s my toy!” “She hit me!” “Well I had it first!”
\n“No, I did!” “I’m telling!” They stopped with my outburst:
\n“Out to the back yard, and go have a ball;
\nNow go and play, go and play, go and play all!”<\/p>\n
One look at the rain and outside they did fly;
\nThinking of puddles and making mud pie.
\nSo out of the door the children they flew
\nBarely heeding my insistence on the wearing of shoes.<\/p>\n
It would take but a moment, I knew without proof;
\nThat such a decision some would call a goof.
\nAs I opened the window to listen for sound;
\nThey raced all around the cold, muddy ground.<\/p>\n
In mud they’d soon be covered from their heads to their foot;
\nThe only question was how long they’d stay put.
\nThe play in the mud was right on its track;
\nBut all too soon they came in, wanting a snack.<\/p>\n
Their wishes for food were oh so contrary;
\nFrozen treats or hot chocolate, and all they could carry.
\nTheir sweet little eyes from play were aglow,
\nBut they insisted their tummies more food they did owe.<\/p>\n
Quickly I noted the chattering teeth,
\nAs well as the mud on their shoes just beneath.
\nA quick decision, the mud or the belly?
\nHoping the mud wasn’t sticky as jelly.<\/p>\n
So I said, “Come in and clean up yourself”
\nWhile I looked for quick snacks up on the shelf.
\nMuddy feet on clean floors quickly did tread;
\nBut now it was time to get the kids fed.<\/p>\n
Not long in their bedrooms the children did lurk;
\nEager to see the result of Mom’s work.
\nPleased they did seem with the food that I chose;
\nWith snack time they wanted to watch favorite shows.<\/p>\n
Playtime wasn’t long enough; they quickly did bristle;
\nIt’s amazing what foods can be used like a missile.
\nBut I heard them exclaim, right before the next fight,
\n“Mommy, I’m sure ready for Christmas tonight!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Twas a few days before Christmas, and all through the house The children were running, their usual carouse. The furniture and floors had been cleaned up with care; In hopes that somehow no messes they’d bear. Ornaments were nestled into the tree and spread In hopes that the children...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[90,208,290],"class_list":["post-1286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-humor","tag-christmas","tag-holidays","tag-parenting-humor"],"yoast_head":"\n