Tommy's Tears and Mary's Fears Lyrics
Two lines with a little lesson: if Tommy keeps crying and Mary keeps worrying, they will wear themselves out and look old before their time.
Tommy's Tears and Mary's Fears
Tommy's tears and Mary's fears
Will make them old before their years.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/tommys-tears-and-marys-fears/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
What Does Tommy's Tears and Mary's Fears Mean?
The rhyme is a playful warning against crying over small things and worrying all the time. Old before their years means looking or feeling older than you really are. It is the kind of saying a grown-up might use with a smile, to help a child see that most troubles are smaller than they feel.
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed under the title "Fears and Tears" in The Real Mother Goose (1916). It sits alongside other gentle lesson rhymes such as Cross Patch and Sulky Sue.
Learning Activities
- Calm breath: take three slow breaths together when someone feels upset.
- Worry box: draw your worries on paper and put them in a box to talk about later.
- Feelings faces: draw a happy, sad and worried face and talk about each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does old before their years mean?
Looking or feeling older than you really are.
What is the lesson of the rhyme?
Too much crying and worrying wears you out.