When trying to put my baby to sleep,
My voice, hushed I keep,
I feed him and burp him and rock him to bed
And slowly slide my hand from under his head.
Mother Nature is calling
And I need to step away
But all the forces are against me
For my baby awake he lay.
While holding everything in
Until he closes his eyes, I wait
Gen Beta, they say don’t like to sleep
But what about the mother, mate?
Mother Nature is calling
And I need to step away
But all the forces are against me
For my baby awake he lay.
He smiles at me and I melt
Closing the distance he had felt
I pat him back to sleep
While inside I cry and weep.
Mother Nature is calling
And I need to step away
But all the forces are against me
For my baby awake he lay.
Once more I try to feed him
With hopes he will fall asleep
But instead he pulls hard at my bosom
So my body’s full and pain, deep.
Mother Nature is calling
And I need to step away
But all the forces are against me
For my baby awake he lay.
Now the liquids push inside me
My baby’s not asleep
It’s driving me crazy
So finally to the bathroom I leap.
Mother Nature was calling
And I needed to step away
But all the forces were against me
For my baby awake he lay.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Tanvi Agarwal.
Photo by Helena Lopes:
28 Comments
This is so nostalgic brings back my new mom days back
This poem is funny, relatable, and wonderfully chaotic—it captures the very real struggle of motherhood through a situation that is both mundane and hilarious. I especially loved the recurring “Mother Nature is calling” refrain, because it builds the frustration while making the poem playful and memorable. The ending is perfect: after all that patience and negotiation, the mother finally has to make a run for it!
A beautiful poem that gently connects motherhood with the nurturing spirit of nature. The imagery feels tender and powerful. I loved the warmth in every line and the emotions behind it. Absolutely mesmerizing!
Thanks, Mandira!
Lovely heartfelt poem✨so relatable
Thanks, Amy!
Who says motherhood isn’t fun? Look, it brought out the best in you, just when you felt completely empty again!
Enjoy the sticky days, sticky hands… and leading to some good sticky jokes too! (Ah, I mean the poem!)
Yes, it is!
Even though I experienced all this exactly 28 years ago, it all came bk to me as I read your poem… beautifully written Cindy
Thanks, Sashirekha!
Dear Cindy, I can feel every word of this beautifully penned poem. Its so realistic, so genuine the feelings are. I too have experienced this and even sometimes now also I have to experience this when my my son of 4 want to hug me tight to fall sleep. I cant move till he sleeps and Oh No the calling….. My God so unbearable sometimes and i still need to hold him tight to make him sleep comfortable. God bless you and your little one. Stay blessed and strong always.
Thanks, Samata!
Oh my, I was reminded of so many such instances when I was a new mom. The physical discomfort we feel often gets ignored but some things just can’t wait! 😁
True na!
It is such a heartfelt poem, and how beautifully you expressed the struggle of mother.
A very relatable situation for all moms. Gen bet ho ya Z, kids at this stage don’t allow moms to step away at all.
What a delightfully relatable poem; I could relate to this one. You’ve captured that new-mum agony — the full bladder, the sliding hand, the baby who wakes the second you dare to move with such warmth and humour. That recurring refrain works beautifully, building the comic desperation with every verse. And “Gen Beta don’t like to sleep, but what about the mother, mate?” made me laugh out loud.
Glad it humoured you, even if a little smile, Varsha!
Ha ha I am sure all mums will relate to this! So much frustration told with much humor! 🤣
:))
I could relate so well to this poem, Cindy. I was 20 when I had my son, and he would not sleep all night. I would sit rocking him in my lap and watch my husband sleep soundly. I would actually weep. Motherhood is no cakewalk! But their absolutely adorable cuteness melts your heart.
So true, Harjeet!
Such a sweet little poem on mothering and motherhood. The refrain added to the beauty
The refrain of “Mother Nature calling” while the whole world conspires to keep her from stepping away is such a relatable, funny yet honest capture of new motherhood. That mix of melting at his smile and crying inside at the same moment says everything about how contradictory those early days are. Painfully accurate and beautifully put together!
Thank you, Arsh!
This is so beautiful, Cindy. A mother’s love so nicely expressed. Enjoyed reading.
How sweet and agonising at the same time. And the sacrifice of moms, I wonder how they manage to thrive all this child raising. Your baby is so cute. I guess that makes up for these moments.
Thank you, Ambica!