Using The Sing Song Voice
ServiceSpace
--Jyoti
2 minute read
Oct 20, 2014

 

Don't whine,
Says the mother
Picking up her
Five year old daughter
To comfort and
Give her what she
Whines for.
An attentive mother
To the wise princess
Who knows what works
To get her way!

I observe as their host
And loving the young mother
Like a little sister, I say:
"Don't respond to the whining"
Even as the mother explains
How she can now read
the whine that says
I am hungry or
I am bored or
I am tired or
I am in pain.

Mother knows best
Even though not mindful
Of her behavior
that creates the world
That tires the princess
Who trains her.

The princess brings out
The little girl in me
Who loves play
And off we go to
Splash in the pool.
At the first contact with water
She screams "Its cold"
But continues to immerse
Herself in the promise of fun.
Soon she is singing
And then dancing for joy.
The music of life is aloud
In her sing-song voice.
We both rejoice
Celebrating it together.

Hours later,
I hear her whine again,
And remind her of her
Beautiful sing song voice
And gently say,
"So wonderful to hear your
sweet sing-song voice.
Did you leave it in the pool?
Can you use it now?"
Puzzled, pausing mid-whine
Her little body can't decide
Should she settle for my attention
Or continue to whine for her mother's?

My hope for her is that
She can claim her own
Sweet sing song voice
As the one that makes
Her really come alive.
Her good mother
Consumed in deciphering
The various tones of the whine
Finds mothering demanding
And misses the opportunity to hear
That blessed sweet song
Which she could also sing-along.

 

Posted by Jyoti on Oct 20, 2014