When I was young, we lived in a big old house with a big front porch and windows that always seemed to face the sunlight.
My bedroom had lace curtains and a balcony.
My dad would take me out on the balcony and sing me to sleep:
“God made the stars in the sky,
God made the moon way up high.God made the dog go…”
“Woof woof” (that was my part of the song)“God made the cat go.”
“Meow!”
and on and on the song went until either I fell asleep or dad sang something like “God made the fish go…”
“How does a fish go, Daddy?”
Mom sang to me too:
“I love little Sunny, she is so sweet
I love little Sunny, she is so sweet.
I love little Sunny,
I love little Sunny,
I love little Sunny my girl.”
I sing that song to my own baby now.
I spent my days playing and helping my mommy. I like to help her fold laundry.
Everytime I found a pair of Daddy’s underwear, I would hold them up and say in the loud voice that is standard for a 3 year old, “But in the Borld is dis?” Then I would giggle and laugh.
Everytime I hear my tea kettle whistle I feel happy, everytime I hear a sewing machine I know that all is right with the world. I’m sure it takes me back to those days playing in the sunshine and listening to Mom hum as she went through her day–cleaning, sewing, painting, and always stopping for a afternoon cup of tea.
Now I live in an old house of my own with lace curtains (soon) and windows that always face the sunshine. I have a baby of my own and I sing to him. He’s too little to help me fold laundry, but I have a big oak table for him to sit on when he is read to help. For now he just rides in the backpack and watches.
I hope that someday my baby will associate Mom humming, the tea kettle whistling, and the sewing machine buzzing along with his own happy childhood. That’s the life I want for myself. That’s the life I want for my baby.
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