“When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.”
~The Talmud
My grandfather happened to pass, the day I told my family I’d started writing. Every Saturday for the last few months of his life, I sat next to him in bed and read him my rhymes. At his funeral, I read a rhyme I wrote for him.
The following Wednesday, my mom came to dinner with a page of prose to match the piece she’d heard. Her tip of the bonnet to me.
When I told her I was planning a post on the power of praise, she asked if she could publish the poem she’d penned.
“Um… sure,” I said, preceding a twitter of nervous laughter.
One day, I’m certain, my mom will join us in Blogopolis. This will be good for her, and save me from random phone calls explaining the events of Xena, Warrior Princess, Angel, and Nip Tuck. Actually, now that I think about it, twitter would be right up my mom’s alley.
Without further ado, here’s Grammy:
When Sean was just a little guy,
he was the apple of my eye.
My first, my baby, my pride, my joy.
But oh my God, was he all boy!
He certainly put me through my paces,
with mischievous acts and silly faces.
Then along came a sister, we saw as a thrill;
he was a rascally Jack to her sweet little Jill.
A brand new playmate, the perfect target,
for pranks that would daily challenge Margaret.
When teachers called me to complain
about behavior quite insane,
I took it all with a granule of salt,
never wanting to launch parental assault.
Life is not black and life is not white.
It’s many shades of grey in my sight.
Kids will be bad, and kids will be good,
but kids should also be understood.
Sean was fun, a total charmer,
but true in heart, a never harmer.
I knew that in spite of his wit and his spunk,
immature actions and juvenile junk,
I saw the spirit of someone great
who could be a father and perfect mate.
Take some maturity, add on the years,
all life’s experience and some of its tears.
Sprinkle some patience, then you will see,
the outstanding man he was destined to be.
As I have grown in age and in girth,
I have never regretted once giving birth
to a rascally, bright, and challenging child.
Sometimes tender, occasionally wild.
He’s grown to be more than I could expect;
honest, straightforward, mature, and direct.
Still ten years old when we are alone,
but wise beyond years when needed at home.
His grandma and grandpa look down in pride
at the man he’s become, past history aside.
He certainly gave them a run for their money,
but now walks the path of his Papí and Honey.
Writer Dad
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In an upcoming post Writer Dad’s gonna rap about the grueling difficulties of a good edit.. and how they’re exponentially worse when doing them with your mother.
About Sean Platt
This is great Sean, your mother is talented and obviously very proud of you. I can see you as a little kid :-)
Marelisas last blog post..12 Superb Ways to Be Happier
This is great Sean, your mother is talented and obviously very proud of you. I can see you as a little kid :-)
Marelisas last blog post..12 Superb Ways to Be Happier
I LOVE this! Go, Grammy!
I have to confess…I hear so much of our middle son in reading this poem. He is sweet, mischievous, silly, daring, an adrenaline junkie, earnest, loving…and he’s only four. I can’t wait to see the older boy, the teenager, and the man he will become. I know he will be amazing (even if I sprout a head full of grey hairs while accompanying him on that journey).
Kimmelins last blog post..Sarah Palin, according to Eve Ensler
I LOVE this! Go, Grammy!
I have to confess…I hear so much of our middle son in reading this poem. He is sweet, mischievous, silly, daring, an adrenaline junkie, earnest, loving…and he’s only four. I can’t wait to see the older boy, the teenager, and the man he will become. I know he will be amazing (even if I sprout a head full of grey hairs while accompanying him on that journey).
Kimmelins last blog post..Sarah Palin, according to Eve Ensler
Sweet and very suitable tribute.
apathy lounges last blog post..Childhood: Such A Happy Place
Sweet and very suitable tribute.
apathy lounges last blog post..Childhood: Such A Happy Place
You? Mischievous?? Who would have guessed.
:-)
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
You? Mischievous?? Who would have guessed.
:-)
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Chris: Thanks for saying that. She’s going to be all gloaty at dinner tomorrow.
Rita: I’m with you. There’s not enough bravado in blogging, at least not when it comes to the language. I’d take alliteration over another top ten list any day.
Mom: You are quite welcome. We can do it again if you are less annoying next time. Seriously mom, not everything that falls from your mouth is a golden nugget. It is a beautiful, touching poem, and it nails me pretty well. Honey and Papí both would have loved it.
Luci: I wanted to lay down a beat, but she wouldn’t let me. Just between you and me (and a few hundred others) her sanity’s not too terribly intact.
KittyTown: I would make my alliteration joke, but since I spoke to you like two hours ago, it would only be redundant. Of course, no one else would know I was repeating myself, but you would. Truly, that’s ten time too terrible to even try.
Marelisa: She is ALMOST as proud of me as she is of herself. Don’t worry, Mare. She’s laughing too.
Kimmelin: There is a direct correlation to the quantity of his amazing to the gray in your hair. Here’s to a whole head of white.
Apathy Lounge: Thanks. My mom is grinning ear to ear.
Vered: Every teacher I’ve ever had.
Chris: Thanks for saying that. She’s going to be all gloaty at dinner tomorrow.
Rita: I’m with you. There’s not enough bravado in blogging, at least not when it comes to the language. I’d take alliteration over another top ten list any day.
Mom: You are quite welcome. We can do it again if you are less annoying next time. Seriously mom, not everything that falls from your mouth is a golden nugget. It is a beautiful, touching poem, and it nails me pretty well. Honey and Papí both would have loved it.
Luci: I wanted to lay down a beat, but she wouldn’t let me. Just between you and me (and a few hundred others) her sanity’s not too terribly intact.
KittyTown: I would make my alliteration joke, but since I spoke to you like two hours ago, it would only be redundant. Of course, no one else would know I was repeating myself, but you would. Truly, that’s ten time too terrible to even try.
Marelisa: She is ALMOST as proud of me as she is of herself. Don’t worry, Mare. She’s laughing too.
Kimmelin: There is a direct correlation to the quantity of his amazing to the gray in your hair. Here’s to a whole head of white.
Apathy Lounge: Thanks. My mom is grinning ear to ear.
Vered: Every teacher I’ve ever had.
I love how you include your whole family in your blog – not just as subject matter but as actual participants.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..Lessons From A Blogging Blockhead
I love how you include your whole family in your blog – not just as subject matter but as actual participants.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..Lessons From A Blogging Blockhead
Kittytown – your reputation is firmly cemented in my eyes. Good to see you again.
Blogger Dads last blog post..An early Halloween treat
Kittytown – your reputation is firmly cemented in my eyes. Good to see you again.
Blogger Dads last blog post..An early Halloween treat