Your kids wait patiently for their turn to speak to you, right? They sit quietly, without fidgeting, and attend to the current conversation? They graciously allow a sibling to finish telling a story before sharing their own?

Yeah, um, neither do mine. In fact, I often feel as if I’m being followed around by a pack of baby goats: “Maa! Maa! Maa!”

Let’s just say we’re still working on this whole family “harmony” thing … and these days, it sounds something like this:

Trio

(pianissimo) Mama,
pretend I’m a butterfly
named Lyla, a little
purple butterfly who
lives among the
(mezzo-forte) Mommy,
I learned the coolest
thing! We made it in
school today and you
need to come see how
(fortissimo) MAMA!
I NEED YOU NOW,
RIGHT HERE AT THE
POTTY! (continuing
in counterpoint)
Mom Mom Mom,
come see, I’m gonna try
MAMA! I NEED TO BE
then get pollen, Mama, and fly
WIPED NOW! Mom,
I folded on these lines
WIPE ME, MOMMY!
to my nest up high,
actually now I’m a bird
named Ly — (crescendo)
MAMA! I. AM. POOPY!
— la; chicka-dee-dee
-DEE  Watch out, Mommy,
watch out, here comes my airp —
POOPY! PLEASE WIPE ME!
Mama — MAMA —
MOMMY!

© Sarah Dunning Park, from What It Is Is Beautiful (Peace Hill Press), 2012. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments! What’s the soundtrack of your life like? Is there a type of animal that reminds you of your kids? (ha!)