Naming Day Poems
Here is a selection of Naming Day Poems and Readings that are appropriate for a humanist naming ceremony
Urgent Note To My Parents
Don’t ask me to do what I can’t do
Only ask me to do what I can
Don’t ask me to be what I can’t be
Only ask me to be what I am
Don’t one minute say “Be a big girl”
And the next “You’re too little for that”
PLEASE don’t ask me to be where I can’t be
PLEASE be happy with right where I’m at
An extract from ‘The Prophet’ by Kahil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of
life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
and though they are with you yet they
belong not to you.
You may give them your love
but not your thoughts,
for they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not
to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
Brothers
Life gave me a brother
to teach me about life
he loves and aggravates me
and gives me strength and strife.
Thank goodness for little brothers
they are special as can be
don’t mess with my little brother,
or you’ll have to deal with me!
Children
If children live with criticism
they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility
they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule
they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame
they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with tolerance
they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement
they learn confidence.
If children live with praise
they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness
they learn justice.
If children live with security
they learn to have faith.
If children live with approval
they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance and friendship
they learn to find love in the world.
Patience
Give me patience when little hands
tug at me with small demands,
Give me gentle words and smiling eyes
and keep my lips from sharp replies,
So in the years to come when my house is still,
beautiful memories, its rooms may fill.
Extract from ‘Education of the Affect’
Accept me, accept my tears, accept my delight,
Accept my exhilaration, Love me as I am, Let me be.
I’m O.K, I’m complete, I have everything I need.
Don’t force me to be like you, don’t force me to be different from you,
don’t force me at all, your needs are not my needs.
Look after your own needs.
Admire me, like me, enjoy me.
You are my everything. I love you always.
You are the sunshine of my life. You are mine forever.
Slow down, be with me, let me see you.
Let me be with you, open up to me, show me yourself.
Let me see who you are, trust me, trust yourself.
Love me, love yourself.
Who left grandad at the chip shop?
Who poured syrup down the sink?
Which one left the freezer open?
Why don’t any of you think?
Why’s the rabbit in the wardrobe?
How did Marmite get up there?
What’s this melted biro doing?
Don’t you know that socks should pair?
When’s this filthy games’ kit needed?
Where’s the barbecue fork gone? –
Our house is a haze of questions,
best not answer every one.