A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "This kid is driving me CRAZY!" But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. he grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo! But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be.
The boy grew. he grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo! But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be.
That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be.
Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You better come see because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always....
But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick.

The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song:

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My Mommy you'll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang:

I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be.

[okiedokie]

I read that book to my kids all the time when they were little. It was their favorite! Mine too...

Okie

[SeptemberMorn]

Beautiful story! My daughter, of all people, gave me that book, I guess, when she still loved me. She wrote an inscription in the inside cover that I'll treasure for ever even if it won't come true.

[Timgt5]

What a touching a sweet story, thank you for sharing that with us. I cried when I finished reading. I will save that one and read it again as Mother's day approaches

TJ

[RozG]

wow i've never heard that one before, it's really beautiful

my mom has a book that has this story in it. Its just a small little picture book. its reallycute.

[Christina86]

I that book!!!!!!!!

[wisewoman]

One of my favorite children's stories. You are an awesome mom!

[Danialla]

I picked up that book while I was waiting to check-out at the bookstore. By the time I got to the register the pages were tear streaked, and I had 3 more copies to give to friends .

And I think you are a great mom too !

[jacq10]

I absolutely love that story. Still brings tears to my eyes.

[Razzleberry]

Ohh....that book makes me cry every time!

Word to the wise: do not read this book at a bookstore when you're postpartum and hormonal and your child is with relatives because of your emotional state....they don't carry that many Kleenex's at Barnes & Noble...

[mel4]

Yes, that book definitely brings on the waterworks. My mother used to read it to me. I know i still have it lying around somewhere.....

[Razzleberry]

OMG....thank you soooo much for posting this. I had the best little moment last night.

My daughter is 2, and in the stage where she won't really let us read to her anymore. She just likes to be up and moving around - doesn't like to sit in my lap.

Last night, I was home with her alone - Daddy was at work. She was playing with her toys and I just got that book off the shelf and started reading it.

She actually came over and sat next to me!! It was so sweet.

Of course...I started crying at the end...and then she said "what's wrong Mommy" and wiped my eyes with her baby doll's blankie!!

Oh it was so sweet. And then she let me rock her to sleep, which she NEVER does anymore. I sang to her - we have the Celine Dion CD that I love (Miracle). It was just the best night in a long time for me.

And then - I was running late for work this morning, and I actually got to say goodbye to her. (I usually leave while she's still asleep).

Anyway...wow. I just feel a lot better now. That was a good night!!

[runningfromchaos]

That book always always makes me cry...I had it somewhere and I would love to have another copy

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this is just beautiful......

[I_WMD]

I know you posted this a couple weeks back Rainzz.

I just now felt the need to read it ....... [ My eyes needed a bath I quess ].

And I figure I'll write it out on a special card for my Mom ,, this Mothers Day , { Thanks for the idea Tim },,, for I rarely show thanks to the one that born me ...........

Love to You Rainzz .