Age 0 ~ Prettiest Baby in White

~ 1986 ~

 

 

 

A great grandmother’s touch

Made a dress for a princess

Flowing white

With lace trim.

 

A grandmother’s hands

Made a blanket to keep

Wrapping a bundle

With perfect love.

 

A mother’s sacrifice

Made an angel baby

Beaming bright

With ebony hair.

 

A sister’s caring

Made dark eyes twinkle

Brand new soul

With heaven’s memory.

 

A Heavenly Father’s love

Made a blessing day

Filled with joy

With eternity’s promise.

 

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 1 ~ Learning to walk

~ 1987 ~

 

   I have four pretty ladies

With baby, toddler, child.

Each one represents

My own dear children’s smiles.

 

One is of a baby,

cradled on a mother’s lap

Another of a little boy,

with flowers behind his back.

 

A third, a daughter

Pretty in baby pink hairbands

And the fourth a toddling girl,

Into mamma’s outstretched hands.

 

Each precious moment

miraculously porcelain-crafted start

but the richest memory remains

deeply etched in this mother’s heart.

 

Tentative steps,

a padded fanny,

Encouraging words

A glowing, successful baby,

 

You learned to walk

And then to run and more,

To ride and drive

And now. . . to magnificently soar.  

 

---<--(@ MSteed ‘04

 

 

Age 1.5 ~ Falling from Heaven

  ~ 1987 ~

Vacations are so exciting we pack and hope and plan. Oregon was the destination all five of us loaded up the van.   We marveled at the scenery took every side trip and pause flew kites and watched seals, ate and played 'just because'.   The beach called temptingly three little ones dug in the sand "Higher up, the view’s amazing" Called down their dad.   So mom watched precious ones climb the hill fearlessly Given charge of the camera she recorded the event cheerfully.   "Look Mom, way up here!" Her babies were in a tree. Towering over the hill and beach as high as they could be

There was little Janeal barely 0ne year old. Waving from the high branches Would Mom have be as bold?   Her little angel from heaven, smiling down from high There she was in a fixed frame then suddenly she went bye!   “Rock a by baby In the tree top” when daddy slips the baby will drop!   The brave little girl with bark burns from chin to cheek still smiled for the camera all the rest of the week.   ---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 2 Shoe Mommy!

~ 1988 ~

 

Every mother waits

For her baby's first word

Will it show affection?

Will it be “Mamma!' or 'Ma!”

What wonders will be manifest

In the first tender expression

From a tiny soul new from heaven?

 

Lovingly I watched

For the sign of connection

Between an image

And unspoken realization.

That everything has a name

And that names symbolize things

And people

And wants.

And joys.

 

My little girl

With eyes shinning brightly

Chose something dear

With pride in her accomplishment

She reached for me

Proudly extending her arms

I reached back with anticipation.

Clutching the precious item,

Her sweet little voice

Chose her very first word and

Exclaimed, “Shoe!” 

 

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 2.5 ~ Braiding hair ~Angel in peach

~ 1988 ~

 

 

Aunt Loralyn is getting married.

Little girls get new dresses to wear

Mom sews diligently

Angels in Peach to share.

 

"Shall we braid your hair?"

"Then let it dry like we do!"

"You'll look so lovely,

"With plaited waves all through."

 

Long brownish blonde hair

flowing down to her waist

a weekly tradition,

a patient angelic face.

 

"Can I wear it up Mommy?"

"Like Barbie at the Ball?"

Little one transformed with pins

curling iron, hairspray and all.

 

Little Bo Peep and Cinderella’s gown

though stunning, weren't as perfect

as a peach-clad two-year old

spinning in circles for dazzling effect.

 

Rust and peach

Everything set with pride

Shhhhhh, don’t tell

The flower-girl rivals the Bride.

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

Age 3 ~ Remembering

~ 1989 ~

 

 

 

"Pig!"

 

 

"Snort, Snort"

 

"Funny!, Funny!"

 

 

Ok, you had to have been there.

 

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

Age 4 ~ Arlington Heights Library

~ 1990 ~

 

 

 

Did you imagine

As you learned to read

At age four,

And then skipped off to school

Seeking solace

in the quiet peace of

Arlinghton Heights Library

and Ms Fiedler's smile,

that your Mom would one day

be a Librarian

for other little girls

Just discovering who they were

and wondering

what to do about it?

 

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

Age 5 ~ Banners to Welcome

~ 1991 ~

 

 

 

 

 

You know when a baby arrives

Those who love her

Shout, "it's a girl!"

 

When important news breaks

The media buzzes to share

News with the world.

 

When you see an amazing sunset

You turn to see who else

Can see your view swirl.

 

When someone is away for awhile

But coming home today

A mommy-missing five-year old

Always had a banner to unfurl.

 

 

                            WELCOME HOME MOM AND DAD!

 

 

 

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 6 ~ The “No Homework Hassle”

~ 1992 ~

 

Mommies are busy souls

with laundry to do

rooms to clean

toys to pick-up

meals to cook

and a brother

and sister

to clean up after.

 

"Did you do your chores?"

"Make sure you find your scout shirt"

"What can we feed the missionaries?"

"Did you check your math?"

 

Little girls are busy souls

with cupboards to explore

rooms to mess

toys to scatter

meals to refuse

and a brother

and a sister

to be teased by for fun.

 

"Can I help you mommy?"

"Can I set the plastic cups?"

"Can I go to church too?"

"I did my math all by myself."

 

Mommies are so grateful

with so much to do

for little girls who never once

from age six

to graduation day

had to be asked

'Did you get your homework done?'

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 7 ~ Barbies, Barbies, Barbies

~ 1993 ~

                          

Fancy ball gowns

shorts and tennis rackets.

Checkered black and white

and blue frilly jackets.

 

Plastic accessories

lined up in rows

mini- purses, high-heeled shoes

plastic hangers and bitty bows.

 

Towering house

and baby-pink car

Ice-cream parlor chairs,

couches, bed and lamps spread far.

 

Barbies, Barbies everywhere

naked, dressed and half-way there.

Ken and Skipper, Stacy and MIdge

Barbies take-over!  Beware!

 

What do you want for Christmas?

Barbies!

What do you want for your Birthday?

Barbies!

What did the Easter Bunny bring?

Barbies!

What will you spend your tooth-fairy money on?

Barbies!

 

Glitter and glitz, Simple and fun.

Boots and gloves, hair-pieces and sun.

Dancing and Working, Playing and Serving

Barbie with Janeal's help

can simply do anything!

 

--<--(@ MSteed

 

 

Age 8 ~ Baptism

~ “I want my life to be as Pure” ~

~ 1994 ~

A third child sometimes gets left out. With a beautiful and brilliant brother and sister gone before, and a precious little baby arriving after.   There are few 'firsts' left for a middle child. Someone has already broken ground. Still, though it may not always feel like it. The firsts still abound. For each experience even if modeled before infused with your spirit becomes innately and indelibly you.

Working on a baptism dress I remember with clarity the anticipation of slipping the pure white over my eight-year-old's head and watching you shine singing with purity, your chosen song,   "I want my life To be as pure As earth right after rain I want to be The best I can. . ."   You, my sweet one have always held that motto from that day to this with integrity purity humility and example.   You are my rainbow.   ---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

Age 9 ~ Farewell to long hair

~ 1995 ~

 

 

"Ouch!"

"It hurts!"

"Stop it!'

"No!"

 

"Shhhh"

"Hold still"

"I'm BEING careful!"

"Do you want it cut?"

 

Long pause.

 

Longer pause

 

Deep breath.

 

"Yes."

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

 

 

Amendment:

 

Janeal says, “That isn’t how it was!  I didn’t want my hair cut, you cut it off an inch at a time when I didn’t obey.  I cried and cried!” 

 

Well, ok, but this way made a better poem. ::winks::

 

Age 10 ~ Sharing a Room

~ 1996 ~

 

Paint splatters

Mom watching

Careful aim

Wall dripping.

 

Trouble brewing?

Sisters fighting?

Punishment coming?

Mother fuming?

 

Nah!

Room redecorating!

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Note: This is the second version, 1999

 

Age 11 ~ Three Steeds at Camp

~ 1997 ~

 

 

                  Young Women’s beckons

Primary left behind.

Summer opens

Sleeping bag to find.

 

Girl's camp promises

nerves tighten

Mom's coming.

Sister's protection.

 

Three dirty Steeds

rungs on a ladder

beaming faces

in Nature's splendor.

 

First year

Fourth year

Leader

Campfire.

 

Some things

that first make you scared

are so much better

shared.

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

Age 12 ~ My “Favorite” School

~ 1998 ~

 

I'll never forget one day,

when I was having a rough morning. 

I don't recall the argument,

nor

do I remember

why I was disappointed,

 

I remember the ride to Sylvan,

a difficult year

for a child

turning into a young woman. 

 

It wasn't unlike so many rides before. 

This one,

however

was not spent

in cheerful sharing chatter,

but with a lecture

from driveway to walkway.

 

Something you did,

or something you said,

again,

I have no memory of it at all,

but the lecture was stinging,

your eyes were brimming

as you closed the door

silently. 

 

 

 

 

I promptly forgot

as mom's often do,

and went about my day. 

 

Six hours later,

I returned to pick you up

at the same tree-lined spot.

 

Your eyes were still brimming. 

The first words you said

were,

 

"Mom, I'm so sorry!"

 

You had not forgotten,

and I,

I was shown an important lesson.

 

My tender-hearted girl, 

taught me the meaning

of  repentance,

and godly sorrow. 

 

 

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 13 ~ New places, new friends

~ 1999 ~

Time has a way of imploding

in on itself.

One day, you are comfortable

and content,

and the next, you are tumbling

outward

in a spiral you dare not question.

 

Everything familiar and known

evaporated

A few words, from those in control.

 

"We're moving."

 

The world spins beyond comprehension

New worlds to conquer and explore.

 

High School beckoned tantalizingly

Bringing what?

You could be someone new.

Old left behind.

Orientation was frightening

a new face

Friends for four years and still.

 

Roseville promised your own room

a sister married

a new life and a new world

fingertips spread

you welcomed the change

and showed

just what thirteen years had taught.  ---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

 

 

 

14 Little Sister’s View of a Wedding

~2000~

 

 

 

Two girls

Shinning eyes

One tears of joy

One tears of loss

Yet can we ever truly lose

What hearts hold forever safe?

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

 

Age ~ 15 Best Mother’s day

~ 2001 ~

 

 

You give the best gifts. So many come to mind. Knowing your receiver Your thoughtfulness is kind. There have been a zillion gifts Tea-cup holders, silver tea-sets lovely things, pretty things thoughtful and useful things.

Still the one I loved the most bringing a tear to my eye was the year you gave me the gift to make any mother sigh.   You told me you remembered with items one by one all the lessons I'd taught you and little things I'd done.     A dinosaur for a song A pack of spoons for a laugh Coloring books for a sigh and rose clippers for a gasp.   Every item represented A memory between you and me A childhood shared in a fancy bag A heart over flowing with "we".     ---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 16 ~ Up UP and Away. . . or not

"Parler' Vous Français? "

~ 2002 ~

 

Sweet Sixteen, and your first 'date'.

My daddy took me to the top

of the highest restaurant

in San Francisco.

 

Your daddy promised to take you

even higher

(though it took two more years to get you there!)

 

You did make it into the sky however

as Paris whispered your name.

You walked amongst the French

Arc de Triomph and Eiffel Tower’s fame

 

Sainte-Chapelle. Chartres. Sacre Coeur.

Notre Dame. The Sine, Champs-Elysees

Artist quarters, Versailles

(and roommates getting sick)

Montpellier and the Louvre

Lore Valley and in the park to picnic.

You may not speak like a native

Ms. Hoffman knew you’d learn

You ordered like a pro!

And Paris awaits your triumphant return.

 

Sweet Sixteen, and a world traveler.

Now finish college, get a degree

We’ll go back together one day.

And then you can pay for me!

---<--(@ MSteed

 

 

 

 

 

 

Age 17 ~ Gender Reversals, 70’s Music, Illegal Drugs and Glass. . .

~ 2003 ~

 

Rehearsals galore

Your dedication legendary.

From Celebrating the Light

to Glass Menagerie, you glow with an inner fire.

 

With Tartuffe and With Grace. Pippin and

Calling the Wind Mariah,

you have shown your versatility.

 

You can hide a terrible secret.

dress in beard and pantaloons,

be a bitter mother,

or a sweet ingénue,

each with believability.

 

From director to actress (actor??)

and every grip, gaff, writer, prop, lights

and stage manager in between.

Drama has been your outlet

For a soul with amazing lessons to teach,

tales to tell,

expressions to learn

and emotions to explore.

 

 

 

Future casts anticipate

your dazzling instruction.

 

---<--(@ MSteed

 

Age 18 ~ Curves

~ 2004 ~

 

 

 

"30 seconds!"

 

"Change stations now!"

 

 

 

 

 

Breathless

Sweating

 

Working

Grunting