Lullabies are sung around the world by people of all cultures to 'lull' babies to sleep. The Brahms Lullaby, Rock-a-bye Baby, Bye, Bye, Baby Bunting, and Hush Little Baby come to mind for many of us in the western culture. I have been partial to the gentle sounds of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star when my own children were little.
I now have a new favorite lullaby. It has an everchanging melody and lyrics that are made up on the spot. I heard this lullaby sung by the mother of my sweet little grandson and I was privileged to listen and watch as she used her lullaby to help him get ready to sleep.
It is not easy for a two year old with seemingly boundless energy for learning and doing to relax enough to let go of the excitement of his day. The lullaby she sang gave him something to think about after she layed him down in bed. I think it gave him pleasant memories as he calmed down and drifted off into sleep.
His mother tells me it also gives her the opportunity to remember her day with her small son. It wasn't all dirty diapers and refusals to try a spoonful of food and struggles with dressing and the toys all over the house and the cries that come when a two year old doesn't get exactly what he wants when he wants it.
She softly sings a happy song of his day: the playing in the sand, the yummy lunch, the tickle game with daddy, the visit from his grandparents, aunts, and uncle. Then she sings the words of tomorrow's day: getting up with daddy, eating a good breakfast, playing with the new truck, doing the puppy puzzle.
Unlike the Brahms lullaby, this song will never be sung again with exactly the same words and melody. Tonight's lullaby will be forgotten tomorrow, but each night she sings it, it is the most beautiful song my little grandson has ever heard.
Twinkletime Rhymes to Print
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