What would your toddler say if he or she could write an apology note for their toddler-like behavior?
Back when I was an English teacher, my favorite writing unit was poetry. Every year I delighted in changing kids’ minds who walked in the door thinking that poetry was always boring, old, or too hard to understand. I loved to teach middle school kids to write poetry that came from their souls, that played with language, and that could make others laugh, cry, or think.
Now that I’m a mom to a toddler and no longer teaching, I don’t think much about similes, stanzas, and personification.
But I do wonder what my toddler son would compose — if, of course, he could write — if he learned about my favorite poem to teach kids: “This Is Just To Say” by William Carlos Williams.
Here is the real poem:
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
There’s so much going on in that poem, and that’s why it’s such a fun and accessible way to introduce poetry to kids. It’s deceptively simple, but does so much with line breaks and word choice. And kids love to learn that Williams was actually a doctor who came home very late one night, ate his wife’s plums, and left a note for her (this actual poem). Once children get that — it’s really about an everyday act that could happen in anybody’s kitchen — they take off with it, writing dozens of their own not-quite-apology poems, imitating Williams’ form and tone.
It’s an apology poem with no genuine apology. And this is exactly how I imagine my toddler — so needy, so prone to mood swings and tantrums, so self-centered, so lacking in attention span, yet so cute, so funny, and so wildly loving — would write a note to me apologizing for his daily “crimes.”
Here are a few of his (imaginary) poems:
This Is Just To Say, Mommy
I woke you up
last night
ten times
in five hours
and now
you’re probably
feeling
tired today
So sorry, Mommy
maybe you should
go to bed
earlier
Sorry About Last Night’s Dinner, Mommy
I refused to eat
the five dinners
that you made
for me
I only wanted
pickles
and goldfish
and chips
Don’t be mad
you can do better, Mommy
goldfish and pickles
are so salty
and so crunchy
This Is What Happens When I Miss Mickey, Mommy
I shrieked
in the grocery store
from my cart prison
for 30 minutes
You got
looks of pity
and you begged me
to stop
So sorry
you got upset
I wanted to watch
Mickey Mouse
Can you write your apology poem from your child?
Dawn @ PricklyMom says
Jessica
If there existed
A designation
For best mom blog post
Of the whole year
I would
Pick this one
Love Dawn
Jessica says
Wow! Thank you so much, Dawn!
JD @ Honest Mom says
OMG, Jessica. I can’t even explain how much I love this post. So clever. So funny! Sharing it everywhere. 🙂
Jessica says
Thanks, JD! I could keep writing these poems all day!
Dawn @ PricklyMom says
You SHOULD! I’m cracking up here! 🙂
Shell says
Oh, I’m so in love with this!
nothingbythebook says
Favourite thing in my inbox so far this a.m. 🙂 xoxo
Jessica says
That’s quite a compliment 🙂 Thank you!
Stephanie Carlson says
The one about Mickey Mouse KILLED me. That’s my 16 month old right there.
Jessica says
My son has a very serious Mickey Mouse Clubhouse addiction. We will be anywhere and he’ll decide that he needs to watch it!
Cory says
Oh Mom I’m so sorry
I cried crocodile tears
and hid my face
in my pillow
You always seem
to want to help
and keep me clean
and suc
Your look of exasperation
was such a shame
I really do like
my jacket dirty
I love this! Thanks PricklyMom for passing it along!!!
Jessica says
I love it! Isn’t it so fun?
Alexa says
Oh the things I hear that I’m sorry for… toddlers are fun, funny, and silly!
Dawn @ PricklyMom says
What’s So Great About Sleep?
Mommy
I was so excited to tell you
that two
three times
makes six
That I had to tell you
at 5 a.m.
Kristi Campbell says
OMG I’m laughing hysterically! “So sorry you got upset!” These are perfect poems for toddlers! Perfect perfect. I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out how to do a poem with “sorry I pooped in my pants almost every day” but need some time between now and writing. I love these, so much!
Sarah @ LeftBrainBuddha says
I called you
the meanest
mommy
ever
But you
know by now
that I don’t really
mean it.
Forgive me,
but I really
didn’t want
to put socks on.
I love this Jessica, and that was so therapeutic, because that did actually happen this morning!! 🙂
Emily says
I would really like to kiss you right now. I know we haven’t met and it’s a little soon, but this…this is so so good. Thank you!
This is just to say
I have spilled
the milk
that was in
the carton
the swig
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
I’m sorry
it was so much fun
to splash
in it though.
Katia says
Sorry About Last Night’s Dinner as to be my favourite one, although it’s a tough choice. That was brilliant,Jessica.
JenKehl - My Skewed View says
OK seriously, tears are pouring down my face. You so hit the nail right on the head. I am not sorry for what I did, I am sorry you can’t handle it. Just so perfect. SO PERFECT!
Jessica says
That’s exactly what I was aiming for. I like your summary: I’m not sorry and I’m sorry that you can’t deal with it. Thank you!
Surprise Mama says
Yes, yes,yes and yes. This was FABULOUS! Though I need to think about it a bit mine would be something about throwing all my dinner on the floor and then wanting to eat it anyway. Brilliant brillant brillant!
Deb @ Urban Moo Cow says
LOL. Love your funny side!!!
Stephanie @ Mommy, for Real. says
This is perfection. Brilliant idea! 🙂
Liz says
Love it! Always liked that poem too….
This Is Just to Say
I didn’t eat dinner
I don’t like meatloaf
I would’ve eaten
if you made something good.
I said I wasn’t hungry.
I will be later.
After bedtime.
Mine and yours.
Jessica says
Yes, that’s perfect! I should have mentioned that: the ability of toddlers never to be hungry at appropriate times!
TK says
That is brilliant! I am poetically challenged, but I’ll try to come up with one of my own.
Jessica says
The great thing about this poem is that it doesn’t require much poetic ability! Thank you!
Elline says
Love these! As a poet myself, especially love thinking about what my toddler would say. The site is looking great and I’m eager to check over to book’s new site too!
erin margolin says
I LOVE William Carlos Williams, and my favorite is the wheelbarrow one….but the plums piece is pretty sweet, too (pun intended). So funny!
😉