BABYSITTING
Every where is quiet, just daily sounds are heard,
The toddler is still sleeping, from her not a word,
No squeals of delight, no clanking of a noisy toy,
No extra eyes and hands need we now employ.

We listen for an awakening sound, she sleeps still,
Soon that rambunctious tot will run around at will,
And all things nice and tidy will be a mess again
The floors now clear will be cluttered, oh, what pain.

But toddlers are so sweet, so much love they have to give,
They are so full of life the things they do you do forgive,
As you work they want to help and cause much more mess,
But it is fun to have one around again, I must confess.

You forget how much mischief a toddler can get in,
From pressing computer buttons, to tipping up a bin
Of onions so those loose skins are all over the floor,
Then clogging up the toilet and blocking the door.

Oh, there is a little noise from her bedroom, her day begun,
This is when nana and grandad have to start to learn to run
In at least ten directions at once, another day of extra fun,
If it would just stop raining we’d go for a walk in the sun.

M Ann Margetson © September 21, 2001