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 Do you remember your mother singing to you? Usually there is a
mother or mother figure from our
childhoods that sang to us, lulled us with song, and often taught us many of
life's important lessons
through song. Not surprisingly, these songs become more and more important
to us as we get older.
I am constantly encouraging new mothers and even pregnant mothers to sing to
their child. The
emotional bond that is created is so very important and, as an adult, can bring
comfort, solace
and joy when heard as adult.
One of the powerful stories related to me by
a patient was of a woman,
paralyzed by an accident, who was waiting in her wheelchair to be picked up for
a doctor's appointment.
Before her ride could get there, a sudden ice storm blew in to town and falling
trees blocked the street
where the woman lived. Not only that, but the power went out and
while the woman was patiently
waiting, her apartment began to get colder and colder. In attempt to
set her thermostat up, the lady fell
from her wheelchair onto the floor and could not get up. The woman lay
there, helpless on the floor,
and began to cry softly. Suddenly the idea came to her to hum the
song that was the first one she ever remembered her mother singing to her;
the song was a very familiar one to many of us,
"Jesus Loves Me." She would hum the song for awhile and then she
would sing it for awhile. She claimed later that it not only helped the time pass, but it also made her
feel physically warmer
and safe. When she was rescued many hours later, everyone was amazed at
what good condition
she was in, since she had laid on the floor for probably 4-5 hours!
The songs we learn in early childhood from mother or another significant adult
figure, are powerful. I can
remember as a preschooler lying in the bed at night and listening to my mother
play "The Teddy Bear's Picnic."
Going to bed listening to her play was a wonderful feeling and made me want to
learn to play too. You don't
have to be a good musician or even have a great voice to sing to your children
and grandchildren, but what
a gift it is! As I approach my grandmother years, my childhood memories of
songs my parents sang to me and with
me grow fonder and fonder. Are you singing to your kids? Do
you listen to music with them, even just in the car?
The bond that music creates between people is powerful and can empower both of
you to love better, stronger
and longer. Pick up the phone and sing "You are my Sunshine" or "Let me
call you sweetheart" or most anything
that will make your child (or your parent!) feel loved on this special day.
I have a CD of lullabies that I recorded last year and on the cover is a picture
of my mother with me on her lap.
You can purchase the CD or the download here:
Here is the link
I also have a CD of songs from the 20's, 30's, and 40's that I recorded last
year and that has a picture of my
mother and me me a couple of years ago. You can purchase the CD or
the download them here:
Here is the link
By the way, my summer and fall calendar of speaking
engagements is filling up. If you'd like for me to visit
YOUR town and present and talk or a workshop on "The Healing Power of Music,"
"Music as Medicine," "Toning and Chanting for Health and Wellness" or any
other music related topic, contact me soon! The contact page is on this
site!
Happy Mother's Day!
Alice
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