I Trust You'll Treat Her Well
Author: Victor Buono
Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.
Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.
She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.
Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.
Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.
She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.
Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
10 comments:
Okay, now I am in tears!! I just stopped by to see if baby #3 was on the way yet! I so hope that Josie's first day was a great time for her!! Next year this will be me, sending my first baby off to real school without me hovering over her!! I hope the day was great, that you are feeling awesome and that Marie is doing well!
Oh! Look at her - she's such a sweet face. I hope her first day of school turned out fantastic - and I hope Mamabear didn't get too weepy (I cried ALL day when Garrett went to Kindergarten).
We are so excited to hear all about her first day - please indulge us when you can =) If you're not busy trying to give birth, that is! Love & hugs, kisses for those beautiful girls.
Delurking to thank you for posting this. My sweet daughter is 27 years old and one month away from getting married. I have been a weepy mess and this post brought todays tears - at the same time I am enjoying the excuse to be a weepy mess! Blessings to you and your family, can't wait to hear if you are a mommy to 3 girls or if you have a new little man at your house.
Ohh my gosh how can you not love that face I'm sure Josie wowed them all in school today!! Can't believe how cute any of your kids are cause I'm sure baby 3 is stinking cute as but when he/she pops out! Seems like yesterday we were camping out at the fairgrounds and now look at you all grown up with such a gorgeous family!
that was supposed to say stinking cute as a bug sorry! Long day at work
Oh Shannon, she is adorable and looks so grown up!! That poem is awesome! I still can't believe they are going to a full day of school already!
AWW! Hope her first day went well! I bet she loved it! How was Momma though??? HUGS!!!
I'm a puddle of water :( These past 5 years have quietly slipped past us...always longing to rewind time for just another while. I hope she had a wonderful first day of school!
Michelle (Hannon)
Awww, I hope that her first day was fabulous!
what a sweet piece of writing...and so true. i hope that her teachers treat her well, and see what you see in her. tell that baby it is time already!!! love you.
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