Poetry Friday-Let's Give it a Try

My friend, Sara, has been doing poetry Friday for years, and I've always wanted to participate. So here is my first attempt. Redneck poetry Friday. I'm going to model a very easy type of poetry, so if anyone else wants to have their first attempt, you've got an easy example. Here are my rules: This is a poetry MOMENT, okay? NOt a 'spend all day on a poem' kind of thing. So just take a quiet moment and relax. You can't blow it as a poet. You'll be great; I just know it.

Summer days
Blazing rays
Lazy ways
Ice cream craze
Cottage stays
Family plays
Ocean sprays
Palm tree sways
Scenic gaze
Give praise
For summer days

Surely you picked up on that rhyme scheme? Now try your own!

My ED didn't make the soccer team. We didn't think she would, but we're SO PROUD of her for trying out. I hope she's not too bummed. I just got a text from her this morning. Sweet thing. She's an awesome kid. My dear child psychologist friend said to me very wise words,"Kids can't have things come too easily to them or they'll have trouble as adults." YEah.

I also had another little parent aha moment this morning. I was talking to another friend about something totally different (the MBA program at Duke, actually), and she said the dean had told the candidates (paraphrase), "You'll make it through this program because we'll make sure you do. Now what you get out of it is up to you." The old 'you get out of something what you put into it', but with a twist. So I'm going to start saying to my kids. "Look, you're going to school every day for a few years here because I'm going to make sure of it. Lots of good stuff is there for the taking, but what you take is up to you. You can get a ton out of it if you try."
Not eloquent or catchy, but I like the idea. Putting the responsibility on them, so they learn to want the right thing, to pursue what is good and to appreciate the opportunities life gives them. I like it.

This week-end is the last summer hurrah at the cottage. Can't wait! I actually won't go until tomorrow (two PRESSING spend-the-night parties in the family), but it will be a nice break. We've been working like crazy people between back to school, major house clean up (everyone, please plan a trip to see me SOON while it's clean--well maybe not too soon. Give us another week to finish)

Isn't Labor Day the most amazing invention? You have enough time to get back into the routine, get in the flow, then along comes a delicious break. Thank God for Labor Day.

Well, I'm off to write now. Thanks for letting me warm up on you today. I'm submitting a poem to Highlights today, I think. Woo hoo. It's about how dirty our car is from carpool. No kidding. Somewhat autobiographical, I'd say. Have a great day and week-end, and oh,yeah, write a poem!