We had another exciting day with 'Honey' the horse over in Barnham, though today was even more thrilling, because Honey's friends, 'Storm' and 'Tacot' (pronounced 'Tak-ah', and I've no idea how it's truly spelled), were part of the riding experience today. Cypress got to ride 'Honey' and Indigo rode 'Tacot' - ON THEIR OWN! My girls were beaming with self-important smiles the entire time, and then they were lost in silent daydreams the entire drive home.
Back home, they absorbed themselves in drawing lots of horses (they drew horse pictures before visiting Honey, and after...it's all about horses, horses, horses), and they also enjoyed engaging with each other in imaginary playlands that involved lots of.....singing.
My children sing a lot. All throughout the day, whilst they play with each other, or on their own, they sing, sing, sing.Indigo will even break out in to song at strange moments when we're on play dates with friends.
I don't sing.
I DID sing all the time when the children were itty-bitty babies, but it didn't come easily at first. I remember how awkward it was for me the first time I was rocking Indigo as a newborn, and my husband was sitting nearby. I felt like I should be singing to this child of mine, but I caught myself battling with 'embarrassment' to just 'start singing'. I think this moment lasted for a few seconds, when I looked at my husband and said 'pardon but I'm going to sing'. He responded with 'Sing! by all means sing!'. And, bless him, he's not once commented about how awful I sing. Though I must say, when I was singing to my babies, I had such confidence in my voice and the words I was singing. I made up all sorts of songs, my children remind me every once in awhile to 'sing that song you made up'.....(about this or that).
The Sound My husband, on the other hand, is a ''retired'' musician. (more on his band here -----> The Sound, hubby is Graham)
Admittedly, though, neither hubby or I really sing much at all anymore. (hubby also sang to the children when they were babies, with his own made up songs). Whilst both of us can be found whistling tunes throughout the day, we don't sing.
Our children; however, do a LOT of singing. Singing is an integral part of their day that has no start or stop button. I try to capture their songs and singing on video, because I'm always mesmerised at how clever and lovely their songs are. Seriously! Their songs have so much emotion mixed with practicality, and wit! But the minute they catch me trying to video them, it all changes to a 'stage performance'.
why we leave instruments laying around the house All of this left me thinking today..........would my children sing so often and so lively if they were in school all day? Because I'm imagining the answer is 'No'. They wouldn't be 'allowed' to sing in the classroom unless part of a group effort, or a 'staged' production. Otherwise, they'd be told to 'stop singing' (and 'stop humming' and 'stop whistling' because it interrupted the class). They wouldn't even DARE to start singing on the playground (for the few short moments they would spend on the playground), or if they did, they would quickly stop because likely their peers would laugh. I doubt seriously if the other children would start singing along, but maybe I'm wrong.
Children are basically not allowed to sing for the majority of their day. And, likely, when they get home, they aren't given sufficient time and space to 'sing'. That time is replaced by electronic entertainment or after-school clubs. Yet, singing is such a part of our evolution! And I now know why I'm so inhibited to sing. I never really had an outlet to nurture my voice growing up. I'm convinced my singing would be lovely if I just gave it a go......with confidence. So, I've decided to learn from my children who spend their day breaking out in to songs with zero fear.........I'm going to start singing more. For the friends and family living nearby....don't worry, I won't start turning our visits in to a Broadway musical. I am pretty sure I'll never sing in public, but I'll start enjoying more singing with my children and at home. Singing with purpose and pleasure during the daily chores, in the shower, when I'm driving....... Because in the end, our children emulate us. It's wonderful enough that my children have the freedom to sing, but it's one step further in the right direction that they grow up with a momma who sang. (and not just of faded memories from when they were babies!).
I'm going to get my voice back, whilst being ever so grateful that my children have never lost theirs.
My mother used to sing in the street as she, my brother and I walked back from church on Saturday evenings!
ReplyDeleteI remember singing a lot when my 2 were babies and before the stress levels rose too high in this current house. I'd come out with all these old hymn tunes because I was happy.
Your children sure do love to sing!
ReplyDeleteI whizzed up the hill to the mini supermarket near us for milk at the weekend (on my own!) and noticed that people were looking at me First I thought it was because I hadn't washed my hair then I realised I was singing out loud!!!
Song has a big part in human history, the use of song to overcome oppression for example.
I imagine your house will be like a disney musical now! Bursting out in to song here and there!
Doing the spontaneous drama at Arundel Castle on Saturday made me think about humans have a long history of entertaining themselves, singing, telling stories, performing etc Before TV& Radio and printing even.
I remember too when S was born singing to her and the songs from my Grandparents poured out as if they had just been waiting there for 30 years or more. If you had asked me to write them down before she was born I wouldn't have had a clue but when I started singing them they were all there!
Ps S has held the book up the screen and says this grey horse is like moonshine and she says this is the turning spell.
ReplyDelete"Twilight Star, Twilight Star,
Twinkling high above so far
Shining light, shining bright,
Will you grant my wish tonight?
Let me little horse forlon
Be at last a unicorn!"