If I would charge one cent each time
      I washed my children's clothes,
      Or tied a shoe or gave a bath
      Or wiped a runny nose,
      Or made a bed or acted as
      Their judge or referee,
      It would be possible that I
      Could live in luxury.

      If I were paid a nickel for
      Each diaper that I've pinned,
      For every Band-Aid I've applied
      When arms or legs were skinned,
      For every toy that I've picked up
      And put back in it's niche,
      There wouldn't be a single doubt--
      Why, I could be quite rich.

      If just one dime would be my fee
      For giving them a pill,
      For making meals and wiping up
      The milk they always spill,
      For darning scores of tiny socks,
      For fixing things that break,
      It wouldn't be too long before
      A fortune I would make.

      Although it's true I don't receive
      A solitary cent,
       I'm repaid in many ways
      For all the time I've spent.
      Their smiles, their love is my reward
      For this unending care,
      And I am richer, yes, by far
      Than any millionaire!

 --Author Unknown