.
Rest:
every parents dream
as soon as the first
baby arrives.
There never seems
to be enough time
in a day
to work in sleep,
naps...
for child and mom !
.
Starting when
my children were young,
on Christmas morning
before 7 am,
gifts were open,
bickering began.
Nap time I thought.
Rest time for ME.
.
“He looked at me”
“No I didn’t”.
“He has my stocking”
“This is MINE”
Nothing major, but
tired me to the bone.
“Rest. I need REST”
my body and mind
hollered … silently,
and I continues on…
so much to do,
so littletime.
.
As they got older,
I worked on Christmas…
you can’t send patients,
all of them, home for
Christmas.
Nurses must work holidays.
.
At a “retirement home”,
long term care,
what ever you know them by,
it is the busiest day of the year,
it seemed to me.
.
Some visitors,
but most came the days
before the holiday.
Some had surprise visitors,
that was fun.
Some looked for visitors
that never came.
That was hard.
.
Sharpie markers
were needed
to mark the presents
before all the presents
endedup in a pile…
or some “traded”.
“To Mom,” “To Dad”
without a clue as
from whom the package
came … just a nick name
on the “from” line
or no name at all !
were puzzles to solve,
sometimes not til
spring or summer.
.
Presents “appeared”
for thosewho didn’t
have family
as staff and volunteers
worked hard to be sure
everyone had presents
to open.
(even those who said they
didn’t want any presents,
after we learned the hard
way that they really wanted
presents.)
.
It started sounding like home.
“He has my stocking,“
“No I don’t.…
This is MINE.“
“She looked at my gifts.“
“So what”
might be the reply.
.
By nap time, after lunch,
at home or at work.
it was on to
“What’s for supper.”
.
By the end of the shift,
I‘d be tired to the core
of my body and mind.
Young or old,
life stays the same.
Early to rise,
early to bicker 
Busy morning,
Naps all around !
.
.
Rest is good for the spirit.
.
.
.
.
siggiofmaine 
Imelda
The title and opening line caught my eye. As a mother of young children, how often have I asked for some rest and vacation time. But then, this is not just about rest – it is an observation about human nature. I am particularly struck by the line about people ‘not wanting’ presents. Who does not want to receive presents? I know, from experience, that one is inclined to not wish for something that he thinks he will not have anyway. It is a sort of defense mechanism to avoid hurt. Cheers to those who make sure that everyone has something to enjoy. 🙂
siggiofmaine
Berta,
thank you for the nice comment…
And, yes, we do tend to feel guilty about naps, but I often laugh remembering that only “old” people took naps…who needed them…then found out that those were the wise people…especially people who taught themselves to take a short power nap and wake up refreshed ☺
Be careful out there shoveling…it looks cold and blustery here. So cold I’m not opening the door to find out…I don’t need another photo THAT bad !
r2a2r2j258
Thank you Siggie, Seems like I can’t keep my eyes open in the afternoons. Nap time during these long winter days feels good but guilty. Rest is good for the spirit. I hope Jim get the Snow blower fixed. Its taking too much out of me to be shoveling. Your poem reminds us all to take some time to renew. Enjoy your writing Siggie.
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