Happy Hanukah to All, And to All A Good Night

I dedicate this little poem to my daughter Sari, who turns 8 on Christmas Eve, and all the other boychiks and meydles who get ripped off every year because their December birthdays are caught in the middle of the Hanukkah hoopla.

Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the hospital
Not a creature was stirring
Couldn’t find a darn Popcicle.

My IV was hung
By my bedside with care,
In hopes that my doctor
Soon would be there.

Pregnant patients were nestled
All snug in their beds,
While visions of epidurals
Danced in their heads.

And grandma with her kerchief
And I in my gown,
Cursed every contraction
Like no one in town.

When outside the hallway
There arouse such a clatter,
“A Christmas babe is coming!”
Could I feel any fatter?

“My daughter is Jewish!”
I exclaimed as she fed.
So no red Santa hats
Atop her tiny baldhead.

And so it began
That 24th day in December
Christmas is now a holiday
I’ll always remember.

“Mishegas of Motherhood” is the creation of Ellie S. Grossman, a St. Louis freelance writer and stay-at-home-mom who never stays home. Her stories are inspired by the real life of her family, including her two children, toy poodle named Luci, and her husband, but not necessarily in that order. Feel free to send any comments, prayers or recipes to ellie@mishegasofmotherhood.com.