katie trudeau
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • As Seen On
  • Community
  • Podcast
Need to Recharge? Find Inspiration?

the blog & podcast to help you live joyfully

We provide inspiration, wisdom, and courage. Cor Domum helps you navigate through life so that you can parent with joy.

Toddler Messes & Existential Attitudes

4/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Last night when I got home, my sweet boy ran up to the door and said "Mama, I was hungry so I made a snack, and I wanted to play so I got out the playdough all by myself." He was SO proud of himself. Even though his "snack" was 6 brownies and his activity of choice invloved playdough bits everywhere, I was so proud of how independent and smart he is. The look on his face was priceless. I could've chosen to be mad about the fact he ate his weight in brownies and made a huge mess, but I used the moment to let him know how proud I am of how big he's getting and how sweet and smart and kind he is.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a poem called "Dust If You Must" by Rose Milligan, which was published in 1998 in UK's magazine The Lady.  Most of us mamas have heard the sweeter poem about how "dusting can wait because I'm putting my baby to sleep." However, Milligan's poem is much darker. But it struck me. Shook me, even. Milligan's simple little poem has been creeping into my mothering.

It's not just about mothering however. It's about life. What do we do with each moment? Do we take it for granted? No matter how big or how small each moment might seem, let us encounter each moment with the spirit of a child. Live. Really live in each moment.

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed,
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time, 
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
Music to hear, and books to read, 
Friends to cherish and life to lead. 

Dust if you must, but the world’s out there, 
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, 
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain. 
This day will not come round again. 

Dust if you must, but bear in mind, 
Old age will come and it’s not kind. 
And when you go - and go you must - 
You, yourself, will make more dust. 

-Rose Milligan
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About Katie

    Wife & Mama with a passion for peaceful parenting, natural living, homeschooling... and my daily café au lait.

    Picture

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    Categories

    All
    100 Days
    30 Day Letter Challenge
    Attachment Parenting
    Babywearing
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Essential Oils
    Fatherhood
    Freedom Journal
    Guest Post
    Homeschool
    Life
    Marriage
    Motherhood
    Motivational
    Parenthood
    Peaceful Parenting
    Real Food
    Recipes
    Toddler Life

© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Photo used under Creative Commons from shixart1985
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • As Seen On
  • Community
  • Podcast