Child's 4th Of July Poem

by Kim B.
(St. Louis, MO, USA)

My husband and I had our first child, a beautiful little girl, exactly a month before Independence Day. She was too small to take to any festivities that first year, but my husband and I decided we wanted to start a family tradition: a 4th of July family outing which we could look forward to and which she could take with her in her heart when she's all grown up.

That second year we found a small town not too far from home which has a festival each year on the 4th of July. We spent the day and night there, taking part in the celebrations, enjoying the red, white, and blue decorations, watching the fireworks show when dusk set in.

Our daughter chased fireflies and spun in circles with colored sparklers, her laughter infectious to all around. At the end of the day we carried home a smiling, sleepy daughter whose arms were full of stuffed animals, flags, and Fourth of July souveniers. It was a perfect day.

It amazes me that although we are not residents of that small town, they opened their hearts to us. By the third year, many recognized and called us by name. They make a fuss over our daughter. They take pictures with us. There is just nothing so charming as a small town whose residents pride themselves in their community celebrations.

My daughter is now six years old. She so looks forward each year to the 4th of July that we make a game of counting down the days. And now with our second child on the way, it's going to get even better!

Child's 4th Of July Poem

The sparklers and the fireflies,
holiday through a child's eyes.
Laughter, love, and so much more
that's what Independence Day is for.