“You’ve got your hands full there”...
said every stranger I see.
“You’re brave” most people tell me,
“Rather you than me”.

“Four girls! Your poor husband”
“I’m blessed” is his reply!
“All those weddings to pay for”
We work hard. Him and I.

I watch as strangers nod their heads;
silently counting my team.
“They all yours?” They say in jest
“Wait ‘til they’re in their teens”

“I don’t know how you do it...
I can’t cope with mine”
(and usually there’s two of theirs)
It’s not easy all the time!

“I don’t know how you do it”
Well I’ll tell you; not a clue!
We’re mums, no matter how big our tribe...
That’s just what we do!

Mum can we go to the park today?
Well that’s a good idea
Let me put the washing on,
And I have these plates to clear.

Mum can we get the painting out?
Yes that’s a good idea
Just let me make the beds upstairs;
Make this ironing pile disappear

Mum can we go for a bike ride?
Our bikes are in the shed
I’ll fetch them for you, just two ticks
Just let me get the baby fed

Mum can we build a den today?
And will you join in too?
Of course I will, I’d love to play
There are just these dishes to get through

Mum can we play with make up...
Or paint our nails perhaps?
I’ll do it for you, give me a sec’
(Let me eat something or I’ll collapse!)

〰️

Mum can we go to the park today?
Well that’s a good idea
Pop on your coats and fetch your hats
Let’s make some memories my dears

Mum can we get the painting out?
Yes that’s a good idea
Let’s paint on rocks and paint on stones
We’ll display them in the garden this year

Mum can we go for a bike ride?
Our bikes are in the shed
I’ll fetch them for you, just two ticks
And I’ll push your sister instead

Mum can we build a den today?
And will you join in too?
Go grab the cushions, the blankets and pegs
And I’ll build it all for you.

One day they will stop asking
One day they’ll all be grown
One day they won’t demand so much
That day, when we’ll be on our own.

Maybe the housework can wait for a while
Tomorrow is there for it too
The balance is hard and the guilt is real
Two versions; which one are you?

Maybe the housework can wait for a while
Tomorrow they might not need you.
This mum-life is hard, the mum-guilt is real
Take a look; which one are you?

When I was just a little girl
It was my dream to see a show,
So off to London my mum took me
To a theatre, we’ve all come to know.

There you were dressed in that coat
A young man upon the stage
In awe of your courage, your presence, your stance
Just a boy, so young in age.

You became the one I talked about
A true inspiration, you see;
I wanted it all, to be just like you
I knew then that the stage was for me!

You became the one I dreamed about
That young man upon the stage,
With that technicolour dream coat
Your power, your passion, your rage.

When I was just a little girl
It was my desire to see a show,
So off to Argyll street my mum took me
And little did I know...

The moment I saw you, you set my path
And you shaped my budding career
A theatre director I became
You helped to make this all come clear.

That moment I saw you, this fire began
You helped shape my successful career
A Performing Arts teacher I became
That was you; forever endeared.

You are still the one I talk about
So ‘Thank you’, I’d just like to say,
For, if it wasn’t for you, inspiring me
Who knows where I’d be today.

Just another reason you inspire people Phillip ♥️

“I’m telling mum, I’m telling dad,
I’m telling my friends
that you made me feel sad”
“Well I’ll tell my teachers you’re picking on me
.you wait til tomorrow, I’ll tell, wait and see”

I’ll give you this, if you give me that”
They rival, they squabble; relationship spats!
The tears, the tantrums, the tale-telling too,
It’s all part of this sisterly sibling to-do

And then it all stops, as if never began,
They’re the ‘bestest’ of friends;
a tight little gang... .

“I’ll do your make-up, I’ll fix that for you”
“I’ll fetch you your favourite toy and play too”.
“I’ll help build that den, I’ll get snacks for you”
“Let’s pretend that we live here
and sleep in here too”.

“Look at us mum, look at us dad”
“We’re being ‘good sisters’, we bet you are glad”
“You be the patient, lay down on the bed,
.I’ll be the doctor, and care for your head”

They giggle, they squeal, they make little pacts. They practice their dance moves
and patter-cake claps.
Follow the leader, and brash copy-cats,
The sisters play nicely. The sisters are back!

Now this is more like it; my kind little crew.
Who look after each other,
like I taught them to do.
And just when you think it’s too good to be true,
.Come those four whiny words...

“I’m telling on you!”

I’ve never felt so saddened
To turn off my alarm
For plans have all been cancelled
What or who’ll next come to harm?

Uncertainty and unknown
Disruption and distress
This nation is in dire straits
And relying on the press.

School’s out far too early
The clubs have all shut down
Normality is slipping
And there’s nobody in town.

Our elderly are locked up
Our loved ones shut inside
Social distancing is trending
It seems luck’s not on our side.

The shops have empty shelving
Anxieties run high
This unnerving eerie feeling
Is beginning to amplify.

So what if we face lockdown
How would we all survive?
Is this what we need to appreciate
What life is, and how to thrive?

~

We’ll spend our time with loved ones
We’ll teach our kids through play
We’ll stop the rigid schedules
And we’ll take it day by day.

We’ll spend time in the garden
We’ll groom and plant for spring
We’ll mark with chalk on the patio slabs
And we’ll take turns on the swing.

We’ll make masks out of paper plates
And puppets from lolly pop sticks
We’ll read and paint and sing and dance
And teach them playing card tricks.

They’ll learn to clean the windows
And cook and sweep and sew
These life long skills are invaluable
We have time now to help them to grow.

Let’s make the most of fraught times
Make memories instead
For one day they will thank us
For the distractions from this dread.

Let’s make the most of fraught times
Take advantage of this gloom
For soon enough we’ll start again
And the mayhem will resume.

Once upon a time
The world just stood still
Without any warning
This was no fire drill

The schools closed their doors
The shops all shut down
We panic bought food
And returned to hometowns

The Government spoke
We followed their orders
Travel not permitted
And the closure of borders

Business stopped trading
Construction just ceased
Our movement constricted
The nation, policed

Once upon a time
The world lost its crown
A powerless public
Twenty twenty lockdown

We queued for our groceries
We sought different ways
To purchase consumables
Needed day-to-day

Stay home, Stay safe
The society ‘norm’
The world as we knew it
Began to transform

We painted huge rainbows
And homeschooled the young
We baked and we played
And we danced and we sung

Once upon a time
The world just stood still
And without the ‘production’
It started to heal

And the world came together
Though we stayed apart
We thought of new ways
To be close in our hearts

We’d gather at doorsteps
At eight on the tick
To applaud all the staff
Who’d looked after our sick

We distanced from loved ones
And waved from afar
We video called
And connected much more

And the world came together
And the world found its crown
We remember this time
Twenty twenty lockdown

History for the Future

Now lockdown is easing
and bravery is succeeding,
Our focus has shifted,
as restrictions are lifted.

Armed with our hand gel
and anti-bac wipes,
And the engraved instruction
to clean every type...

Of hard surface, soft surface,
small hands and faces,
With the worry, we can’t keep
them safe from all places.

And I know ‘Stay home - stay safe’
just can’t last forever,
But the virus is out there:
we can’t be too clever...

To think that it’s vanished,
to think that’s it’s gone.
I see people dismiss it,
and just carry on.

And I know that we need to
move on from this shielding,
To socially conform
and it seems we are yielding.

We have to accept it;
we have to adjust.
Follow one-way systems,
and revise the distrust.

But what is this ‘new normal’
and when will it end?
And when will I be able
to hug a dear friend?

The worry, the wonder;
It’s still all so raw.
Will the gloves and the face masks
be forever more?

The barriers; the floor spots,
the distancing signs,
To ensure we are bounded
to social confines.

Almost permanent measures
have been put into place,
To remind us that Covid
has invaded our space.

The worry, the wonder,
the stress and anxiety.
Are we being safe?
Is the rest of society?

The days where we’re tired
and we haven’t slept,
‘Cause we’re comforting young ones
who’ve dreamt or who’ve wept...

For the people who are dying,
for the friends they’ve not seen
For when returning to normal
is not as it seems.

For the questions, the queries,
the uncertainties.
They’re scared of the virus,
but don’t seem to see...

Why they can’t play at playgrounds
and touch certain things,
Why they can’t eat in restaurants
and swing on the swings.

Lockdown is easing
and the bravery is succeeding,
But we must remain mindful,
and refrain from denial.

Lockdown is easing,
and we must carry on,
But remember this virus,
is far from long gone!