Ode to Mrs. Piaget

“Mom knows best,” that’s what they say,
But not to Mrs. Piaget.
Though hours she spent in nursery rocker
Softly singing “Frere Jacques”
To Laurent, Lulu and Jacqueline.
No doubt, too, she wiped their chins,
And cleaned their bibs,
And soothed their cries.
Really, wouldn’t it be wise
To call her child psych’s “all-time great”?
Imagine how she had to wait
As Jean penned each kid’s play-by-play:

L. won’t eat the soup today.
J. lost interest in the doll,
Now is crawling down the hall.

“Jean, dear, can you take a break?
Cherie, for the children’s sake?
I’m glad Laurent rolled over twice
And Lulu’s grasping skills suffice
But coq au vin is getting cold
No, just two times -- not three -- she rolled...”

What patience shown by this grand-dame,
And yet we never see her name
On Developmental syllabi
I guess ours is not to wonder why,
But offer praise to the monsieur
Instead of writing odes to her.
Well, for the record, Wife of Jean:
I’d like to say that though you’re gone,
I’ll find you cause for celebration
Throughout my “formal operation.”