My child is upset and runs up to my arms for a comforting cradle. A minute later, tears are replaced by a smile, ears that are willing to listen and a heart that understands.

Did you know that a mommy’s heartbeat is considered as a child’s first music and it starts from the time a baby is conceived in a mother’s womb? This is the reason why holding a child close to your heart can be soothing for him/her. The beat of your heart and warm embrace gives their emotion a sense of familiarity which heightens their feeling of security. Now, that’s beautiful don’t you think?

The bond between a mother and a child is eminent beyond comparison. But this bond can be further strengthened through music, especially the kind that can regulate the emotion…..a lullaby.

Lullaby or often called a cradle song is a soothing song or a piece of music that is usually played for or sung to children. It is simple and repetitive, exactly just like our love for our children; it is pure and unconditional. A lullaby has various purpose: it can be as significant as passing down a tradition or culture or even a means to help develop one’s communication skills. However, the most obvious would be to lull children.

I am a mother of three beautiful children, they are all unique and special in their own ways and loved dearly. No matter how different one is from the other, they all have something in common, music can regulate their emotions. From birth I have set apart a particular lullaby for each child. Their names are incorporated on the lyrics hence making it more personal. Personalizing a song can help a child’s growing self-awareness by giving him/her the understanding of how special and unique he/she is. Hence, the purpose of the lullaby becomes more relevant and can depict its primary purpose which is to bond the child and the caretaker.

So next time your child runs up to you even just for a hug, give yourself a few moments to breath deeply….inhale…..exhale, and then cuddle up. Be in that moment with him/her for you are needed NOW, not later, not tomorrow….NOW! Lull your child with your own personal cradle song. Sing like nothing else matters but you and your child. Remember this, you don’t have to have a perfect pitch because for your child, daddy and mommy has the most beautiful singing voice because it is the sound of love.

With music, you can never go wrong…….especially if it is straight from the heart.

Below is an example of how you can personalize a lullaby.

You Are My Sunshine

You are my (insert child’s name)

My only sunshine

You make me happy,

When skies are grey.

You’ll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don’t take my, (insert child’s name) away

Please don’t take my (insert child’s name) away.