What's the nicest thing......

It’s May!?!?!  How did that happen?  The weather’s getting warmer, baseball season is in full swing and the kids are almost out of school.  But most important, next Sunday is Mother’s Day.  Yes, it’s only a week away and you’re welcome for the reminder.

Of course “Mother’s Day” takes on a whole new meaning when you become a Mother, but that’s not exactly what this blog is about.

When I was in the second grade I was in the school choir.  We were the “Kids of the Kingdom”, K – 2^nd grade, 5 to 8 years old.  We even had robes.  We thought we were the real deal.  On Mother’s Day we had a special song.  I can still remember the words – lucky for you, you just get to read it and not hear me sing it:

What’s the nicest thing about your mother?

She cooks and she sews and she washes all your clothes

But what’s the nicest thing about your mother

That you’ll find annnnnyyyyywheeeerrrreee?

What’s the nicest thing?

The very nicest thing?

Is that she’s allllllwaaaaayyys there.

After we finished singing, we were given a carnation to take to our teary moms sitting in the pews beaming with pride.  The song became a Mother’s Day tradition at our church.  Long after my sister and I had out grown our choir robes, the new generation exuberantly sang “What’s the nicest thing……”  We’d sit in the audience lip syncing to ourselves, and our mom, snickering a little when we sang “she sews”.  Usually the song would continue to run through our head throughout the day, so we’d serenade our mom whenever the mood struck.  It became a staple of our Mother’s Day traditions.

A lot has changed since then.  Motherhood in the early 80’s was a lot different than motherhood in 2014.  But when you look at the words of the song, the simple message is timeless – “what’s the nicest thing, the very nicest thing, is that she’s always there”.  I think it’s safe to say that we’re all a little too hard on ourselves when it comes to “being there” for our children.  Parental guilt makes us feel like there is always a little more that we could, or should, be doing. 

We have to remember that “always there” has a different definition to a child.  It doesn’t mean every waking moment.  It doesn’t mean that you’re always doing something fun and exciting with expensive toys.  It means when they need a hug, you’re there.  When they need help with homework, an art project, playing catch or riding bikes, you’re there.  Just. Be. There.  It’s that easy.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, Dad’s who are also moms, family/friends who fill in for moms and coworkers who are understanding of moms.  It truly takes a village.

Heart-FULLy yours, 

Kacey

What's your Heart Tune?

What’s your house like on Monday morning?  Is it quiet and relaxed?  Or is it frantic and chaotic?  Do you take the time to get organized and lay your clothes out the night before?  Or are there clothes and shoes and backpacks and lunches flying all over the place?  How many times does someone say “have you combed your hair?” or “I’m leaving in 5 minutes whether you are in the car or not?”  If Monday morning at your house was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

Music can be a powerful influence, consciously and subconsciously.  We all have a song within us that plays every minute of every day.  You could think of it as your “heart tune”, the song that your heart is playing (others may call it your mood or your energy).

Think about all the heart tunes that are playing in your house on a typical Monday morning.  Chances are they sound loud, jumbled and unharmonious.  Anyone who had the choice would probably change the station rather than listen.

Try something new next week and play music while the family is getting ready.  If your mornings are usually chaotic, harried and stressful, pick mellow music.  You don’t have to go to the extreme and choose classical, just as long as it is more on the soothing side.  If your mornings are more lethargic and hard to get everyone going, then choose something more upbeat.  If you have a family favorite artist or group, even better, no one ever said you shouldn’t start your day off with a little dancing or singing.

Songs have the power to make us feel different ways just by listening to them.  Some songs make us want to sing along and dance, others make us want to sit and cry, while others remind us a special place or memory.  Think about the way your favorite song makes you feel.   Chances are it makes you feel physically different just by listening to it.  Your heart beats a little faster.  You have more energy and find yourself smiling for no reason.  That shift in energy stays with you.  It becomes your heart tune and everyone around you can hear it.  Not only do they hear it, but they react to it. 

Take some time this week to listen to the heart tunes that you, and those around you, are playing.  What does your heart tune say about you (or them)?  Is it time to change the station?  Or do you need to turn up your music to cheer up those around you?

Heart-FULLy yours, 

Kacey