Category: Children

We bid him Be A Good Boy; Study; and
Be Nearly Perfect. On the other hand,
Learn Sportmanship; Have Fun ; Don’t Give a Hang
When Things Go Wrong; and Be One of the Gang .

It’s evident we haven’t, up to now,
Explained to our small seven-year old how
A fellow can behave himself and get
His lessons, and still not be Teacher’s Pet!

by Ray Romine Thursday, January 17, 1952

This latest hit recording
Is sending us for fair:
Our teen-age daughter into swoons–
Her parents out for air.

by Ray Romine Monday, January 28, 1952

Despaired of Junior’s growing up?
Here is a thought for you:
Through getting him to straighten up
You’ll stand much straighter too!

by Ray Romine Tuesday, March 21, 1950

Junior needs to be encouraged
When he sets him out to make things-
Little toys, fantastic gadgets,
Mostly messy and mistake things.

We admire and we applaud him
In his saw and hammer mayhem,
But his efforts force this question:
Must we, do you think, display them?

by Ray Romine Thursday, August 31, 1950

Small boys play and climb and skate
While I seek information
On how they maintain that rare state:
Unending animation!

by Ray Romine Saturday, October 6, 1951

Junior’s the unselfish kind;
His effacement’s unsurpassed;
And when it comes to work, I find.
He puts himself, as always, last.

by Ray Romine Saturday, July 8, 1950

Daughter’s platter used to be
Filled with ritzy scenery,
(The kind that’s painted on the plate
And not the stuff thereon she ate):
Pretty roses, leaflets green,
Lambs a-scamp’ring in between.
But now are posies lighter shade,
While lambs have done a sort of fade;
For every day, to dine or sup,
She SCRAPES to fill her tummy up.

TAKE IT EASY, SANDRA JEAN,
WHEN YOU SCRAPE YOUR PLATTER CLEAN.

Yes, the way it used to be,
Hard to get to eat was she;
Never close, at any rate,
Was she to surface of the plate:
Always left an inch or two
To insulate what artist drew.
But now, beware, O Masterpiece–
You’d better pray for quick release,
For, better death at kitchen sink,
Than see your beauty slowly shrink.

The Gentle Touch, 0 SANDRA JEAN,
ACQUIRE TO KEEP YOUR PLATTER CLEAN.

Daughter isn’t starving, but
She’s left her “fussy-eater” rut.
Plop that food there, French or Spanish,
On her plate, and watch it vanish!
But please don t sand the platelet thin–
Supper-time we’ll eat agin.
Attack it not with fume and froth,
Or you’ll be through to table-cloth.
For we ain’t seen the worst, as yet–
DISHES may be hard to get!

SCRAPE IT LIGHTLY, SANDRA JEAN,
AFTER PLATE OF FOOD IS CLEAN!

by Ray Romine Sunday, June 27, 1943

“Does the child look more like mom–or dad?”
We have our answer all fixed up:
He favors both. For, good or bad,
He ‘s a crazy kid–and all mixed up!

by Ray Romine Saturday, February 13, 1954

Why is it that children, who’re normally quiet
Will wait til you’ve guests before starting to riot?
Say “aye”, those in favor of this reform:
Shoo the youngsters to bed while the oldsters perform.

REVISION:
There is this about children
Who’re normally quiet–
They wait til you’ve guests
Before starting to riot.

(Rev. 9-30-1949)

by Ray Romine Sunday, October 17, 1948

To one so young, her parents seem
A hard-to-manage stubborn team
That stands forever in the way
Of everything that’s fun and play.
(They’ll handle easier when she
Has learned to use psychology!)

by Ray Romine Friday, January 25, 1946