Motherhood & Words
Happy late Mother’s Day, my friends. I meant to write a post on Sunday. I *thought* about posting. I even *planned* my post. But then I fell asleep on the couch.
It was a much needed nap after an exciting (but very busy) previous week, which was full of readings in celebration of mothers’ stories. Both the Motherhood & Words reading and the first Twin Cities Listen To Your Mother event were huge successes. No one who attended either reading could deny (not that they’d want to) the power inherent in writing and telling our stories, or the incredible high you get from supporting other who are doing the same.
I’m grateful to have had the fabulous Caroline Grant and Katrina Kenison fly across the country for the Motherhood & Words reading. Thank you, Katrina and Caroline! What grace and poise and talent these two women possess. What an honor to share a podium with them.
And then last Thursday, I was thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Twin Cities Listen To Your Mother show at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. Holy kit-kats, people. There was a crowd of almost 500 people! I laughed, I cried, I got chills. My fellow readers blew me away.
(Photo by the wonderful Jen of Jennifer Liv Photography.)
Of course you know that I’m not about to stop celebrating your mother stories just because Mother’s Day has passed. No, no, no. I’m just getting started. It’s time once again, my friends, for the annual Motherhood & Words Haiku contest.
For those of you who are new to Motherhood & Words, a little background: I launched the contest in 2008, when Zoë was just a couple of months old and I developed a raging case of mastitis. D was traveling, so I was on my own, juggling an infant and a four-year-old. It wasn’t pretty, people. And in fact, it was such a traumatic experience that I felt I needed to honor it in some way.
What better way to do that than with a haiku?
Thus the annual Motherhood & Words haiku contest was born. You can read the 2008 entries here and the winners here.
Since then, we have celebrated toddler haiku, “what no one told me” haiku, “what surprised me about motherhood” haiku, and “something my child said to me” haiku. This year, the topic is—wait for it…wait for it…
a moment you won’t forget.
It could be a motherhood moment that you cherish, that made you collapse with laughter, or that shattered you with grief. Think small frame, detail.
I’m honored that the fabulously talented Jill Christman has agreed to be the judge of this year’s contest.
Remember: three lines – 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Please put your entry in the comments below. The deadline is Monday, May 27th!
Don’t be scared. Haiku!!
Oh yes, and I forgot to mention: the prize is a $10 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Use Your Words (unless you have three copies already, in which case I’ll send you a different book).
two o’clock a.m.
in the silence i awake
the youngest sleeps through
he runs all the lights
baby listless, passing out
he prays, I scream, Go!
My arms circled him
from the minute he was born.
Now, his circle me.
Oh, oh, I love these so much. Keep them coming, people!
1. She patted his back.
Finally he relaxed. Then
vomit splashed her cheek
2. “My hair’s red. Dad’s brown!”
What color is Mommy’s hair?
He thought, paused, grinned: “Striped!”
3. It’s not Asperger’s.
I exhaled, smiled. Yes, but?
Borderline, he said.
I’ve never tried haiku before, but here I go:
Watching the sun rise
Sleeping baby on my chest
Needed more than sleep.
Four pairs of scared eyes
Looking at me…”What now, Mom?”
Life, without him- starts
Sterile hospital.
My boy, still. On a gurney.
My tears don’t help him.
Run to the bathroom
Made it! Sit down on wet seat
Mother of three boys.
My haiku (hi, Kate!)
First son
Born to me, you were
Moments after birth, plotting
Your independence
Our spring has arrived.
My daughter asks me if I
will go barefooting.
Cold gel placed on me.
“Oh no,” she says. “What?” I ask.
There are two babies.
Two babies screaming,
the hard decision was made.
Back to work I go.
1. A rough morning time
Two littles giggling away
Turn it all around
2. Nursing, cuddled close
Doorbell rings. Nanny is here.
I don’t want to leave.
3. She runs. She falls down.
Bump growing. Tears are streaming.
Emergency room.
p.s. I love haiku!!
Words that melt away
Frustration gone with these words
Mommy, you’re my star.
1.
NO HANDS ON THE WALLS
Forty three hand prints last count
Boys, take sponge and scrub!
2.
Chubby baby feet
Love cute squeezable fatness
Mom stop it I’m nine.
I teach him how to
eat fresh snow — so many smiles
on the walk to school
“Lips off the toilet!”
Oh, the things I find myself
saying as a mom.
dog puke in my bed
Han Min in trouble at school –
it’s not even noon
1.
There are many firsts –
The first smile, tooth, day of school
And the first forged note.
2.
An ocean away
Feet big and small in the sand
This is Portugal
Colleagues go to work
And I am home, rinsing poop
out of a onesie
Migraine stuck in bed
Bongos and singing by kids
Though sweet, does not help
Friday trash truck comes
He stands on the kitchen chair
Waving “bye diapies!!”
Up again at three
Babe in belly is growing large
Three more weeks to go
Forty-two weeks- still
A house full of boys- no girl
I miss her-grateful
Never far from Home
Thoughts of my children’s fate
Face the world again
Don’t Slam The Back Door!
reminded thousands of times
Mom slammed. Mom sweeps glass.
Hi Kate,
Congrats on all the good things happening! On a trip to NYC this spring, I visited Ground Zero with my ten year old son.
Hesitant fingers
tracing names etched in cold stone
now share the burden
[…] you so much to Jill Christman for being the judge of the 6th Annual Motherhood & Words Haiku Contest. And thank you all so much for submitting your wonderful poems. It was so much fun to read […]