Four

Tucking in four children takes a lot

They all need different attention, 

dìfferent kinds of listening,

different comforts

Four different moods,

four different essences to absorb and understand

to breath back out what they need to breath in

Four different souls to sooth and quiet

down towards sleep

Each one feels so different to cuddle

Four different types of love

"Three cheers for mom! 

Hip hip hurray

Hip hip hurray 

Hurray

Hurray 

Hurray!"

"That's not all," they say

"Cheers to you"

They raise their glasses, mug and plastic cups and clink, tap, chunk them together

"Cheers, Cheers!"

"To the best mom ever"

"You should be on MasterChef"

"You couldn't be any better"

My boys, my children 

I know I am so lucky

Who else is so loved

So praised and complimented

So unhesitatingly appreciated

So adored

I let it fill me up and save it 

to pour back over them when I am tired, when they are noisy, when the towels and the socks and bits of paper are all over the floor still and again. 

When I am all out of words but there are still things that need to be said. 

I can dip down pour this love back over them with patience and humour 

use praise and love

Three cheers for them 

and how they lift me up

Three cheers for US

Hip hip hurray

Hurray

Hurray!