Just one of many versions of this beautiful reminder of what matters most… Children grow up so fast, let this Vinyl Wall Phrase from The Simple Stencil  help us to remember to cherish those moments and feel less guilty about the dishes piling up in the sink…

The squiggle embellishment is included and is shown here in the King Blue color using the 18″ x 11″ size.

We have several other (longer) versions of this beautiful poem available that can be custom designed in our Online Design Center. See a few of them below and share them with your friends and family… this is a wonderful gift for a new mom!!

Housework Can Wait

Come in, but don’t expect to find

All dishes done, all floors ashine.

Observe the crumbs and toys galore.

The smudgy prints upon the door.

The little ones we shelter here

 Don’t thrive on a spotless atmosphere.

They’re more inclined to disarray

 And carefree even messy play.

 Their needs are great, their patience small.

 All day I’m at their beck and call.

 It’s Mommy come! Mommy see!

Wiggly worms and red scraped knee.

Painted pictures, blocks piled high.

My floors unshined, the days go by.

Some future day they’ll flee this nest,

And I at last will have a rest!

Now you tell me which matters more,

A happy child or a polished floor?

What Did I Do Today?

Today I left some dishes dirty,

The bed got made around 3:30.

The diapers soaked a little longer,

The odor grew a little stronger.

The crumbs I spilled the day before,

Are staring at me from the floor.

The fingerprints there on the wall,

Will likely be there still next fall.

The dirty streaks on those window panes,

Will still be there next time it rains.

Shame on you, you sit and say,

Just what did you do today?

I nursed a baby till he slept,

I held a toddler while she wept.

I played a game of hide and seek,

I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.

I pulled a wagon, sang a song,

Taught a child right from wrong.

What did I do this whole day through?

Not much that shows, I guess that’s true.

Unless you think that what I’ve done,

Might be important to someone,

With bright blue eyes and soft brown hair,

If that is true…I’ve done my share.

Babies Don’t Keep (the long version)

I hope that my child looking back on today

remembers a mother who had time to play

for children grow up while you are not looking

there will be years ahead for cleaning and cooking

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth

empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

hang out the washing and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

and out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

but I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep!

We’re on Facebook, Pintrest, and visit our full SimpleStencil Baby Center Catalog for more inspiration and ideas to make your life sweeter!

SimpleStencil™ decorative wall lettering allows you to create a personalized wall quote to display beautiful written expressions on your walls, mirrors, windows, tiles and other smooth surfaces. Our SimpleStencil™ wall quote catalog has a large selection of quotes for walls. Some designs are pre-designed or you can select one of the wall quotes that is fully customizable so you can get the wall lettering designs to suit your space and taste. Browse our catalog for quotes for your walls by room, interest, holiday or country. If you can’t find a wall quote that suits your taste, try our online design center which allows you to create your own personalized wall lettering and preview what the writing will look like on your walls before you purchase. You can select from a variety of wall lettering styles, colors and sizes to fit your space and style perfectly. Our wall lettering, wall quotes and pre-made SimpleStencil™ designs give a “painted” stencil look at a fraction of the price. SimpleStencils™ are self adhesive die-cut vinyl wall letters and designs that are applied quickly and easily to walls, mirrors, windows, tiles and other smooth surfaces. Unlike traditional painted wall stencils, our wall lettering is removable, making it ideal for remodeling and renovating baby’s nursery walls, living and family room walls, classroom or church walls, kitchen and dining room walls, etc.