I watched "Music Intent" on PBS. Apparently some scientists watched people's brain activity while they exposed them to certain songs. There was one man whose brain had a tremendous amount of activity (lots of healthy, cranial blood flow) when he heard a song he had a personnal connection to. His friend happened to be singing it and the song really meant something to him. Which means if we connect to a particular song it feels good to hear it AND it's beneficial to the health of our brain. Awesome. It's actually scientific. We knew all this already, right?
As all moms do, I found myself relating everything I watched to my kids...
Magnolia had a dance recital last week (I loved it but I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't ever mind sitting though recitals).
And, ever since she saw Mags perform, June has been demading the exact song that Maggie danced to whenever she's near the computer or stereo. The song is ok but after 5 times in a row, "First Sign of Spring" from Bambi starts to bother everyone else. And just when it comes to an end, June runs to the computer or the stereo and shouts, "Deee" (dance!). She tantrums if we put any other song on. (did I mention she is throwin full blown fits now?)
I think her brain is emotionally connected to the song since she has watched her big sister dance to it. Inside her head there must be some seroius blood flow when it comes on.
So, we hit play again. Whenever you think twice about letting your kids hear that annoying Wiggles song one more time, think about all that brain activity happening when they get to hear the song they really love.
And, yes! Summer is here. I know they keep saying t-stoms but we're all fighting it. We've even been to the beach. My grandmother and my mom always said the beach is the world's best playground.
Now I'm going to go put some headphones on and give my brain some blood flow. Tomorrow, maybe back to the beach. Again.