Parents poems and songs
Parents Poetry songs and letters.Yes, that's right! What quite a number of our parents have recognised is that they have found it extremely therapeutic to write down their thoughts and feelings around their parenting skills progress. Here are just a few to inform and inspire.
Becoming Confident Parents
They wondered, could I pen a verse
"About parents with problems"?
I said of course, but I take a different view.
We're "people with pasts" like everyone else.
Our group, so small, spoke of
Personal truths, of growth and healing.
Our children, also small, will reap
The benefits of our honesty and humility.
Our teachers did not hold our hands -
They stood beside us with encouragement,
Smiled warmly through our tears,
Helping us believe we could transcend.
I'm not the first to say, but know it's true -
Our past helps to shape us,
Our experiences teach us,
But only we are in control of who we come to be.
When "people with pasts" transform
Into "positive parents"
As we learn, we teach our children
To be happy with themselves.
Where we've had to climb mountains
Their paths will be neatly cobbled.
(Katherine Garrett, Watercliffe School Parent, July 2009).
Monday morning mothers meeting
As Monday morning comes round again,
for some families it is always the same
getting ready for school can be absolute hell,
but not for us because we go as well.
We soon arrive and its coffee time for me;
I'm first in line, we meet our friends and have a good natter
about who left X Factor - yes it does matter!
Time to hand homework in and have a sit down.
"Have I done it right" some mums may frown.
We are all trying hard and are eager to please.
But our great mentors always put us at ease.
As parents and wives we come from all walks of life.
But we will never again be referred to as trouble and strife.
To be positive and calm is something we have learnt.
Not to mention a sticker is something to be earnt.
Some were shy and coy in week one.
What an achievement that they still come;
maybe it's the biscuits that bring them here?
More like the support we get that fill them with cheer!
At the start some thought "this will never work,"
that their children will always drive them beserk.
"Stay strong you can do it we are here to help you;"
those reassuring words from our Geoff and Sue.
What will we do when this group ends,
I'm not alone I have all my new friends.
When I think about my life, I speak for us all,
when I say - actually, I would not have it any other way!
This song was written by Fiona on our team for a Christmas party we had. It is based on The Eagles hit, "Take it easy ."
Well we are Cmon Everybody and this is what we do
Run parenting all around
All across the city, happy fun and witty
So clap your hands and come on down
Chorus - Take it easy take it easy
Don't let the sound of your kids whining drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
And maybe try to understand,
Parenting is hard so take it easy.
Mr Geoff he is the boss we give him respect
He is such a fine sight to see
But it's the girls my lord that stop him getting bored
We're good at parenting delivery.
Chorus
We'll be running down the road trying to loosen our load
With parenting on our minds
Letting you discover that no job is tougher
Than caring for the smaller kind.
Chorus
Well our team is very keen to help you in your plight
With tantrums and hostility
Following the pattern of Carolyn Webster-Stratton
With drinks and Marks and Spencer's treats
Chorus - repeat twice
Parenting is hard so take it easy.
This one is called Liz's Lullaby.
The moon in the sky, so big and bright
It shines, shines
all through the night.
The moon in the sky
So big and bright,
So shine, shine
on Connor tonight.
The stars in the sky
So twinkly bright
They sparkle and twinkle
All through the night
The stars in the sky
So twinkly bright
So sparkle and twinkle
on Ryan tonight.
The sky at night
So velvet blue
What are we
now going to do?
The sky at night
So velvet blue
I'm going to bed
It's time you did too.
Remember "I will survive" by Gloria Gaynor? Try singing along to this.....................
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Thinking that I had to go in, had me terrified
Not knowing who was in the room, but knowin I had to go in soon
And so I tried, held my breath and went inside
Saw all of you, & Geoff and Sue,
Who had smiles across their faces `cos they've seen a lot of cases
Of par-ents who're in a tangle
`cos their children they can't handle
But they know, that the stress will surely go.
And we learned how, to calm our heads
When we couldn't get our children tucked up in their beds.
Now our kids love sticker charts
And it gladdens all our hearts when we see
How nice-ly they eat their tea!
I'm glad I went, on that first day
Our Guru's, Geoff and Sue, they held our hands all of the way
And now we're flying free like birds
And we'll remember all their words,
So we're not down, when our kids run rings around.
So if you find you're in a mess
And you think your kids cause you nothing b-ut distress
Then please take this tip from me
Call "Cmon Everybody"
And soon you'll find,
That your stress is left behind
And you'll feel free
Just like me
'cos now I wonder why I waited
Wonder why I hesitated
What would my life be like
If I had got back on my bike
And left the scene...
Would my kids be drama queens?............
Here is a poem from the heart.....................
Oh my, how time has flown.
The years have passed and you have grown.
I can remember when you was small
You would run, jump and kick a ball.
hold my hand and squeeze it tight
come home from school, you'd been in a fight.
Out with the lads having fun.
Met a girl, she broke your heart.
I made it better `cos I'm your mum.
I loved you then, I love you now.
We'll work through your troubles, some way some how.
Never lose faith, never lose heart.
It's never the end, it's always the start.
So get on the right path and do your best.
I'll guide you through; you can do the rest.
And always remember no matter where you be
I'll always be with you, you can count on me.
I guess all of you can empathise with this one also...........................
I can remember when you was small
pulling off the paper, drawing on the wall.
When you went to school you said, "it's just not fair."
But you got the scissors and cut that girls hair.
The nurse came to school to give you a jab.
You said, "I don't like needles they make me mad."
She came with the needle, I cannot believe what you did.
You set off running, I shouted, "Hey, stop that kid."
Then you got to 18 you said, "I don't really drink."
But all I could hear all night was you being sick in the sink.
You was just like Cassanova; you said, "girls, I'm not bothered."
I said, "what about a condom?"
You said, "trust me, I've got that covered."
You've brought me lots of happiness over the years
with a great deal of laughter and just a few tears.
So, go on enjoy your life the best that you can
And always remember, I'm your number one fan!
The next poem is by Katherine Garrett who is presently attending one of our courses at Watercliffe.
My Son is Living Poetry
When I first held you
I wondered over your skinny hands and feet,
Your full head of jet black hair,
And your bright blue eyes -
One badly bruised from the trauma of coming into this world.
My exhausted baby boy,
being born was hard work, wasn't it?
Now I watch in awe of you
When you tell me all about the stars
And the planets,
When you sing the songs you've made up yourself,
When you read to me from your books about animals,
And smile up at me when something interests you.
These days your hands and feet
Are big and strong.
Your hair has lightened to that just-so shade
Of "English brown".
But you still have eyes of the clearest blue.
It's ok that when you are hungry or thirsty
You say, "I'm sad".
It's ok that when you are tired in bed at night
You say, "I'm happy".
Just because you can't name your emotions
Doesn't mean you don't feel them.
When they told me you may not ever know
How to express yourself,
That your difficulties were "significant",
That you would always live under
The shadow of this word
"autism",
I cried for weeks.
They were tears of desperation.
They were tears of worry and heartbreak.
I know differently now.
You could never be in the shadow of
Anything,
Or anyone,
And everyone can see it.
You don't always speak much,
But you have plenty in your head
And heart
Worth saying.
I've never known a child
As affectionate as you.
You love so many things, so many people,
And you let the world know.
Sometimes I still cry.
But they are tears of pride,
And happiness.
I wouldn't change anything in my past
Because it led to me being your mother.
And I welcome the future with open arms
Excited to see who you will become.
Cmon Everybody Training Course
Come on mums and dads, come and join the gang. Feel the fear and do it. Dont put it off any longer. We are here for the same reasons to get help and deal with our smart little rascals. A problem shared is a problem halved.
I have learnt how important it is to play and praise my child. Give them attention no matter how little - catch them being good. Give praise and you will create a book full of positive feelings for them.
Give commands and make sure you can follow them through. Do not make a rod for your own back; remember they don't stay babies for long. It will be much harder the longer you do not tackle it. Reward your children with quality time and offer no cost or low cost rewards. Remember, when you have a happy child you will have happy parents too.
Thanks to all the mums for their cooperation to make the parenting course successful aswell as a big trhankyou to Geoff and Sue.
Letters
21/05/09
I would just like to write a huge thankyou to all involved and in particular Anne and Fiona who run our Thursday parenting course at Holmhirst school in Woodseats.
We are at week ten on the course and I am learning and benefiting from this more than I could ever have imagined; as well as thoroughly enjoying it too!
I am a professional, working mum living in Woodseats. I have a background in childcare from Nursery Nursing for over 13 years and now assessing students at Sheffield College that are training in the childcare field. However, having my own two children was a whole new world to me - exciting, fun, demanding and also very scary!
I often read of courses and other projects based around parenting and children that are run in underpriviledged or poorer areas, and I was delighted at one coming so local to me. This immediately made me feel this was somethimg I could attend. I am writing this in the hope that these courses continue to be held in areas such as Woodseats and other areas that are perhaps not classed as "in need."
I know lots of professional parents that would love to attend such courses and they would attend confidently if closer to home.
I am finding this course such fun (Anne and Fiona are amazing!) and as a family we are benefitting enormously. I am thankful to the wide variety of people that are on my course and we all feedback fully as a group each week and, therefore, therefore share a vast variation of views, stories and ideas - all of which are so helpful.
I am truly grateful for this opportunity and I'm sure there are many more like me.
With thanks.
xxxx
May 18th 2009.
I did a surprise tea party for xxxx and xxxxxxxx. I got it all ready for when they came home from school. When they came home they were really excited, even xxxx. told xxxxxxxx she could pour as it was her tea set. All way through we chatted and I was saying how good xxxxxxxx was at pouring. Even when she spilt it they both looked horrified and I just said, "don't worry, I can clean it later."
Half way through xxxx said, "You've changed mum. You talk softly and keep praising us all the time."
I was really pleased with myself. xxxxxxxx also asked xxxx if he would like a turn at pouring; which I thought was wonderful.
The Tea Party was a huge success - a definite do again - and soon.
x x xxxxxxx