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January 2005
A Musical Resolution
Mrs. Donna - North Canton
 It’s the first day back to school after the holidays. Mismatched socks spiral your three-year-old into a complete meltdown over having to wear socks, even in January. Six-year-old Sammy’s treasured first-lost tooth is now lost in the cereal bowl. The cat's on the counter eating the packed lunches. Shooing the cat with one hand and digging through the soggy cereal bowl with the other, you realize that a strange sound is drowning out the cries of “I HATE SOCKS!”
GLUB, GLUB, GLUB..... How long have you been hearing that?
The gallon jug of milk.....now ½ a gallon....is turned on its side on the tray of the baby’s high chair. How did she reach that? Quickly righting the container, you grab a towel to mop up the cascading milk. Wee One stares at you in disbelief... What did I just do, Mama?
You sit down on the floor. Next to the puddle. It’s time to show them all what a tantrum REALLY looks like. The kicking. The screaming. The pounding. It’s time to cry over spilt milk! A soggy baby has already beaten you to the punch. You take a deep breath. Commence Mommy Tantrum. 3-2-1.....
Against natural inclination...Out of your mouth comes...a tune?
”This is the way we sop up milk, sop up milk, sop up milk.
This is the way we sop up milk so early in the morning.”
Sammy looks at your pathetic state and laughs hysterically, forgetting about his own toothy plight. A one-socked toddler appears in the doorway and joins in the song. You can’t help but sing a little louder and sillier. Baby peers over the edge of the high chair....What’s this song about?
Baby, it’s about keeping your cool! It’s about mopping up a slippery situation. It’s about discovering that Singing beats Screaming any day.
Music can be a powerfully JOYFUL tool for the would-be Positive Parent! When I want to shout, but I sing instead, life gets a little better in that moment. Moment by moment, life becomes more JOYFUL.
We all have our share of stress. My life is no exception. Full time mommy and part time WeJoySing instructor. Juggling free-lance writing, home-based ministry and church involvement...Some days my cup– the milk jug even-- is overflowing! I confess that I’ve looked forward to writing this article, because I need to be reminded of the importance MUSIC PLAYS in making life more UPBEAT!
Children respond favorably to music. No wonder music so readily motivates children to complete a task in a joyful, playful manner. After all, to which would YOU rather respond?
A) “Get those socks NOW!” (shouted out in an over-stressed voice)
OR
B) “If you’re a sock and you know it, find a foot...” (sung to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
Even adults prefer the sung rendition!
Baby New Year has arrived. With outstretched arms, this Little One begs us to embrace the promise of months ahead. Wrapping his chubby fingers around ours, the rascal will inevitably lead us to areas of occasional stress. How will we respond? WeJoySing Parents: Let’s make 2005's Resolution a Musical one. 3-2-1...Take a deep breath and sing!
A note from Mrs. Jo–
Time and again, parents have shared their testimony of the effectiveness of adapting WeJoySing songs to everyday situations. Shouting for JOY when you want to scream in frustration may not come naturally, but it will come with practice. And practice makes for fine musicians....and even better parents!
"Sing"cerely,
Mrs. Jo
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