2 Plus 2 is Four
(because the terrible twos are never really over)
By
Leila’s Mom
Now that Leila’s turning 4…
Hide the books
And bolt the door!
Tell the neighbors to stand guard,
Lock up Fifi, gate the yard!
Leila’s smarter and stronger
And ½ an inch longer!
She sings in the shower,
And spells out her name
In soccer, the coach says,
“She plays a mean game!”
She’s one of the Angels
in Ms. Jenny’s class
And just like a princess,
she knows to say,
she knows to say,
“Please pass..
The butter,
The bucket,
The sweets
In your pocket,
The crayons,
The crackers
And the bouncy ball...
Just pass me the dolly,
Oh, pleeeeese, pass the doll!
We’re barely in spring,
And she’s ready for fall…
She jumps into baskets
And writes on the wall…
NOT THE WALL, LEILA!!!!
NOT THE WALL!
Oh, Little Miss Leila,
who’s a year older,
who’s a year older,
Is sweeter and gentler
and just a bit bolder.
and just a bit bolder.
She’s learning, however,
that once you turn four,
that once you turn four,
YOU DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS
OR OPEN THE DOOR!
The wall is not paper, LEILAAAA!
And cartwheels are fun,
BUT NOT ON THE TABLE!
JUST ON THE LAWN.
Oh, Leila, my Leila,
my sweet Leilee Lou,
my sweet Leilee Lou,
You’re 4, my sweet Leila
And that’s 2 + 2.
The Lost Stanzas
My Leila’s—just 4—
Is ahead of her time
I give her a penny,
she asks for a dime.
she asks for a dime.
I give her a nickel,
and she wants
and she wants
A dollar,
Oh, Leila, my Leila,
I’m ready to holler!
I’m ready to holler!
Oh, Leila, my Leila,
my sweet Cherry pie
my sweet Cherry pie
That’s my necklace, Leila,
Not a Barbie tie!
We all went to Paris,
What a trip it was…
I tripped over Leila
Landed on my…
Oh, Leila, Cherie,
As Parisians say,
Cherie, please sit down
Just sit, Leila, STAY!
Oh, Leila, my Leila
Had I known before
That having a Leila
And one who’s just four
Is harder, and sweeter
Than one can dare say
That’s why I say nothing
Except—What a day!
