Okay, how can you not look at this face and completely fall in love?
That's my little sweetheart Jacob, and yes... what they say about little boys that have their mama's wrapped around their little finger is completely true!
I don't know how other working parents say goodbye to their children in the morning when they leave for work, but it can be so heart wrenching when your little one just doesn't want you to go. I feel guilt, sadness, and sometimes just have a really hard time leaving. So to make the process easier, my little guy and I have come up with our own little ritual. There's a chain link fence on the playground right outside the center, and on nice days I can drop Jacob off on the playground, leave the center, and then walk over to the chain link fence to say goodbye. This is where Jacob will give me his "tic-tac-toe" kisses, which consist of kissing me through the chain link fence, usually in a diagonal fashion, like tic-tac-toe. I don't expect anyone else to understand why we do this, it's just our own little ritual. I wanted to capture this ritual in a song, which was why I wrote, "X's and O's - Tic Tac Toe."
I recall another very cute ritual with another mom at the center, Mara White. Her sweet little Sari was in the toddler room, and Sari would drive around the center, or past the playground, just so she would get a "rock star goodbye" from all the little toddlers as she drove by, beeping her horn. It always cracked me up to see the little toddlers do this.
There's also a verse dedicated to the teachers, because it certainly takes a village to raise a child, and we could not do our job effectively as working parents, if we didn't have wonderful teachers. You know it has to be a calling, and that they absolutely love what they do to take care of children every single day. I've been fortunate as a parent that my children have had amazing teachers in their lives.
So here's probably my most "sentimental" of all the children's songs I've written. In fact, it's probably more for parents than it is for kids, truth be told! Enjoy!
Tic-Tac-Toe, X’s and O’s
By: Denise Forney
(Verse 1)
There’s a little boy who’s waiting at the fence on the playground
He patiently waits for his mama to turn back around
She really needs to go soon; she’s late for work again
But she wouldn’t miss this moment to spend more time with him
So she tiptoes on back over for their daily ritual
Something silly just between them, her little guy seems to love
It makes him feel secure now, he knows it will be alright
His mama smiles and laughs with him and holds her son so tight as they play
(Chorus)
Tic-tac-toe through the chain link fence -- Butterfly kisses and a sweet caress
Little does he know, how it tears her up to go
So she’ll spend 1 more moment saying “I love you,” -- Zipping up his coat & tying his shoes
Just one more kiss, just one more hug; For the rest of the day, she’ll carry the love in
her heart -- X’s and O’s - Tic-tac-toe.
(Verse 2)
There’s a little girl who’s waiting, looking out the window pain
She patiently waits for her daddy to turn around and wave
He really needs to go soon; the time is passing fast
But he can’t resist her little nose pressed against the glass
So he throws her one more kiss, which she catches in her hand
Then she places it on her cheek and makes the same motion to him
She knows that he’s her daddy who makes everything okay
What she doesn’t know is he’ll think of her every moment of his day with memories of
(Chorus)
Tic-tac-toe through the chain link fence -- Butterfly kisses and a sweet caress
Little does she know, how it tears him up to go
So he’ll spend 1 more moment saying “I love you,” Zipping up her coat & tying her shoes
Just one more kiss, just one more hug - For the rest of the day, he’ll carry the love in his
Heart; X’s and O’s - Tic-tac-toe.
(Verse 3)
There’s a classroom of little children, peering over the playground wall
Excited as can be, waiting for their little friend’s mom
They know she’ll come around soon, they’re waiting for her beep
And as she honks her horn, they giggle loudly, it’s the sweetest sight to see
They say it takes a village, so we trust them each day
To provide their care, to show and share -- to teach in every way
We know it must be a calling that they’re doing what they love
We can only appreciate their gifts, and never thank them near enough
As we share all our
(Chorus)
Tic-tac-toes through the chain link fence - Butterfly kisses and a sweet caress
Little do they know, how it tears us up to go
So we’ll spend one more moment saying “I love you,”
Zipping up their coats and tying their shoes
Just one more kiss, just one more hug
For the rest of the day, we’ll carry the love in our heart
X’s and O’s - Tic-tac-toe.
