Thursday, September 30, 2010

Make your reader smell your work

Check out blogger Allison Schrieber Lee at http://allison-thisisthelife.blogspot.com/. Her posts are always noteworthy and uplifting, but her comment about parenting made me nod. "I was not perfect, but I was perfect in my intention to do what I could in whatever moment I was in."

Here are a few more lines of my "olfactory" writing -using the sense of smell to trigger mommy memories.

Baby milk-breath, the nape of her neck;
his tiny toes, downy hair ~ good as it gets for mom.

Sick little baby, please don't cry; I'll sing you another lullaby.
Diarrhea filled diapers, vomit soaked sheets ~ the stuffy stench of motherhood.

Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, Jergens Lotion, No Tears Shampoo,
bubble gum pink liquid antibiotics ~ pain relievers of childhood.

Will you share a baby-scented memory with me?

11 comments:

Pat Wahler said...

Just after the nerve-fraying moments of bathing a new baby, when you cuddle that darling little one against your body, and breathe in the scent of clean soft skin liberally sprinkled with talc...ahhhhhh. Bliss.

Bookie said...

Hi, Linda, I am back...mountains of laundry and family issues, but at least I am sleeping in my own bed.

My first son had a unique skin smell...musky...like my Cherokee blooded Granny under her talcum powder smell. It was a distintive smell that make me think of earth, musk, outside air maybe. It was hard to describe but I never smelled it on the second baby.

Susan said...

Hi Linda....Here's a quickie poem for you:

Little daughter, so sweet and new, my heart literally aches with love for you.

Out of the tubbie, so clean and so sweet; wrap you so gently, from head to tiny feet.

Now you are sleepy,I sniff your soft curls. You smell like a flower, with petals unfurled.

Flower smelling lotion, I gently apply, Then nuzzle your tender neck, and kiss away your cry.

My little rose blossom, my tender, loving doll.
I breathe in your sweetness, as nightime now falls.

I kiss your tender cheek, and tell you goodnight.
One more sweet sniff, protective angels alight.

Gentle dreams darling baby!

Linda O'Connell said...

Pat,
I can totally agree: nerve fraying moment, and then that blissful feeling of smelling that little doll.Thanks.

Linda O'Connell said...

Claudia,
Glad you're back. I find that baby/granny scent very intriguing. Probably genetics. I know about piles of laundry! Thaks for responding.

Linda O'Connell said...

Susan,
This is such a heart warming poem. Surely you have printed it out and presented it to your child. I love the line: "One more sweet sniff; protective angels alight." You made me smell and feel the activity in this poem. Especially every mother's last kiss goodnight.

Lynn said...

There's always wet wipes. Not a great smell, but that reminds me of baby smells.

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

A full Diaper Genie. LOL Muddy skin and perspiration (little boys); sparkly fingernail polish and lip gloss (little girls). Fingerpaints. Their own sweet smell, unique to each baby. *sigh*

Linda O'Connell said...

Lynn,
You are so right. We go through tons of them at school, mostly for hand wipes, (not butt wipes) after playing on the playground.

Linda O'Connell said...

Lisa,
You pegged it. I smelled my little boy and girl after reading your comments. One more thing I would add, my son had the smelliest feet/tennis shoes when he was a little kid.

Tammy said...

Like any animal mother, I could've sniffed out my own babies with a blindfold on. There were times I was as comforted as they were just holding, rocking, and smelling their warm scent with their heads tucked just perfectly under my chin. Thanks for that memory.