In This House

By Hayley Zemontas

In this house, we’re about fun.
Day trips, picnics and paddling pools in the sun.
Grabbing the moment and utilising each one.
We’re about making noise;
enjoying the freedom to shout, sing and run.
Clanging and banging with a saucepan as a drum. 
Singing from the deepest depths of our lungs. 

In this house, we’re about mess.
Muddy hands and dinner down our dress.
Encouraged to touch, explore and test.
We’re about making,
crafting, creating.
Sticking, drawing or wildly painting;
rainbow colours splashed and streaked 
like disco lights upon our cheeks.

In this house, we’re about play.
Dolls and dress up; serving pretend cakes moulded out of modelling clay.
Copying all we’ve seen today.
We’re all about imagining.
A lion, a robot; a princess with a diamond ring
or a striped bumblebee with a piercing sting.
We can be literally anything! 

In this house, we’re about conversation.
Listening and sharing information.
Showing interest in one another’s day 
because we all have something valuable to say,
have opinions and feelings, and all are okay.
We’re about connection,
unwavering affection;
kisses, cuddles and positive attention.

In this house, we’re authentically ourselves.
Because why would we wanna be anyone else?
We express our emotions, good or bad 
whether excited, cross or sad.
We don’t like each other all of the time.
We fight, clash and step over the lines 
but we’ll always reflect and apologise.
Because in this house there’s love,
all of the time.  


Hayley Zemontas is a first-time mum to twin girls. She loves writing poetry and finds it very therapeutic. You can find her on her Facebook page.

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