tired midwest parents

INT. FAMILY HOME – EARLY MORNING

Fade in from black as the view of a bedroom ceiling is revealed, faint light spilling in from the blinds. You wipe turn away from the bright reminder of a new day, not wanting to leave the cozy warmth of the blankets. You feel a small twinge of excitement as faint echoes of your parent’s voices and a familiar melody echoes up the stairs. You feel the beat guiding your arms as you stretch and start to roll out of bed. This is the soundtrack to the opening scene of your day.

“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.” – Plato

Starting the day with music can a positive impact on the day ahead. I imagine my kids awake with a melody floating into their ears from downstairs, and it ignites a mood or a thought that helps get them started on their day. They’re drawn to the sound, gathering downstairs at their own pace and beginning the routine of breakfast, dressing, lunch packing, and teeth brushing.

It’s not perfect. However, playing the soundtrack to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, or introducing them to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars tickles their brains in some way. I see a reaction, a curiosity, and maybe an investment. They’ll ask questions, listen as they spoon in their cereal, and maybe it will earn a “Play it again, dad!”

It’s all a win. I watch our morning playlists often inspire them and drive them to work towards the inevitable goal of just getting out the door. It seems to pay off to introduce a little Mozart or Metallica.

There are certainly times for silence. It has its purpose. No one is always prepared for the morning, and we’re talking about children under ten here, so there are a number of intangibles that could derail the process. But it’s fun. It’s part of who we are. Providing a common focal point for them as we work to get them prepped and ready as the clock ticks is an invaluable resource I can’t live without.

“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” – Maya Angelou

Watching them adopt the beat of the song or music playing in the morning is an incredibly satisfying feeling. I can see them tap into the energy of the music as they work it into the way they eat breakfast or pack their backpacks.

I’ll stay silent for the most part, only occasionally throwing in a “You like this?” as a way to gauge their investment.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words.” – Victor Hugo

When curiosity strikes, questions come. Maybe they’re feeling a certain way, and the music or song will trigger an unexpected emotion that launches questions. It can create connections and teaching or storytelling moments.

“A lot of music is mathematics. It’s balance.” – Mel Brooks

I put thought into timing the playlists. I want them to end as we are supposed to be exiting the house. The structure of the beginning, middle, and end of the morning can be felt in the rising tempos and louder sounds. The moments we draw closer to departure, we turn to hype music or a steady focused rhythm.

Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.” – Jean-Michel Basquiat

We fill some of the silence, some of the routines with music. We fill the in between times and necessary repetitions with a soundtrack that attempts to birth curiosity and creativity. Who wouldn’t love to have a personal soundtrack to their own day, one that you could turn on and off in any given moment to help give you the extra push to move forward and not sit stagnant in awkwardness or apathy.

Weigh the pros and cons. Embrace the rhythm that will eventually get you. Like or dislike. Maybe just try it out. Bring some life to the morning and see if it works for you. Sometimes an early morning dance party is good for everyone.

-Tired Midwest Dad