As I was on facebook last night I stumbled upon the most beautiful poem.  Slow Down Mummy is a Poem by Rebekah Knight. I read it, loved it, and immediately wanted to share it with you!  Perhaps you have read this before, or perhaps it is brand new.  Either way, I feel it’s a lovely way to start the week.

Slow Down Mummy, R. Knight

Slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
Slow down mummy, make yourself a cup of tea.
Slow down mummy, come and spend some time with me.

Slow down mummy, let’s put our boots on and go out for a walk,
let’s kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
Slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet and rest with me a while.

Slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, lets have some fun, lets bake a cake!
Slow down mummy I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, its nice when you just stop.

Sit with us a minute,
& listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood is not here to stay!

As I read this poem (more then once) I was reminded of how quickly these early years really go.  I cannot believe that my Madeline is already 11.  I decided to compile a list of activities for me to do with my wee ones that are simple and slow.

The  poem Slow Down Mummy was a beautiful reminder to me for why I have decided to be home with my wee ones.   Here are some activities we have been doing far too seldom – but will be doing much more.

1. Bake and eat warm cookies

2. Go for a walk in the rain

3. Turn up some music and have a real dance party

4. Have a tea party with all our stuffed friends

5. Make forts.  A lot of fun forts.

6. Rake big piles of leaves for the sole purpose of jumping in them

7. Jump on the trampoline

8. Play at the park.  Really play – slides, swings, teeter totters …

9. Go for a nature walk and look for Fairies and Magic Forest Creatures.  When we find their homes, leave little treasures.

10. Have a picnic.  Outside, or if the weather suggests, in our family room (preferably in a fort of some kind)

11. Drive until we find cows or horses, feed them carrots from our garden.

12. Make up silly songs

13.  Colour with crayons.  Just simply paper and crayons.

14. Play dress up.

15. Play hide and seek.  My Sammy just loves hide-and-seek.  I am going to play until HE says he’s done (I wonder if the game will last all day?)

16.  Rest.  My wee ones rest for one hour each afternoon.  One day this week I am going to snuggle right into that blue race car bed and rest too.

The poem, Slow Down Mummy is so beautifully written.  It served me as a gentle reminder for treasuring the time I have with my wee ones.  Everything that I do is to prepare my wee ones for tomorrow, but it is so very important that I also enjoy today.

You can find other Rebekah Knight poems on her  Facebook page

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