Carolyn’s music library is pretty big already – she has three Baby Einstein CDs, a Veggie Tales CD, two lullaby CDs given to her by the cast of Anything Goes, and two more lullaby CDs from my parents. One of the CDs from my parents, The Planet Sleeps is absolutely amazing. We play it every night as part of her bedtime routine, and sometimes before naps as well.
I don’t think I could ever tire of this album. When I’m rocking Carolyn to sleep and it’s playing, I think of all the other mothers around the planet rocking their babies and singing them lullabies. It’s a common thread in this world of differences, the desire of mothers everywhere to provide peace and security for their children. It’s too bad we can’t always see past our differences to realize that.
My love of the album doesn’t stop me from making up my own words to some of the songs, though. The first song, Chi Mi Na Mr-Bheanna – which is one of my absolute favorites – ends up becoming something else entirely when I have to stumble down the hall in the wee hours of the morning: “Oh, jeez, it’s four in the morning now; oh, jeez, it’s four in the morning now; oh, jeez, it’s four in the morning now, why won’t you go back to sleep?” (Actually, those words were a collaborative effort with Denis. Just to give credit where it’s due. And to share the blame for using “jeez” in a song.)
I sooooo agree that music is a common thread between all mothers!! I played my daughter music even before she was born. I had a device called womb song and would play her music all the time!!
Then when she was born I played a cd called “Golden Slumbers” everynight and boy would it relax her. She would just melt in my arms. Even now at three I still sing to her. She prefers my voice now to a cd and I relish in the fact that everynight she asks for me to sing to her!! Music is our bonding factor!!!
I really do believe music makes you smarter too. I read a book while I was pregnant called “The Mozart Effect” and I do believe it works!! She’s just turning three and she knows her whole alphabet, how to count to fifteen, and how to count to ten in Spanish.
Keep up with playing the music because music is a beautiful thing!! It’s what connects the whole Earth! =)