SONGS, SONGS, MUSIC and SONGS

I am sure I am not the only one who does this, or this happens to, you hear a song and immediately it brings a memory or mood to mind. These can be broad or specific, people or places, good or bad. There are songs that remind me of my childhood like "What a wonderful world" by Louis Armstrong, or more specific my favorite song when I was 5 and we lived in Texas "Africa" by Toto. I still think that song is great. Some songs make me think of specific people. Even more so now two years after her death "You are my sunshine" makes me think of my grandma. I try to sing it to my son but can't always make it through with out starting to cry. So I was just thinking about how my life really could be set to music. I could easily write a soundtrack for each point of my life. Even my babyhood would be set to music as I still sing the same lullabyes to my son that my parents sang to me, Dad's choice "B a bae, b e bee" and Mom's "Leaving on a jetplane". My mother claims she didn't know any lullabyes and therefor sung me the only thing she knew the words too. One of my most favorite and few songs I can sing with out accompaniement to this day. There are songs that remind me of difficult times dealing with my past like Tori Amos's "Precious Things". There are songs that expressed exactly how I was feeling in my life, like after two years of trying and failing and failing and almost losing hope and then the joy of having my son, "A New Day" Celione Dion. But even more so now I find myself actually picking songs to suite the person, like theme songs. I took a quiz online once that told me my theme song is "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, a song I absolutely love but I think more fitting in my current life would be "I'm a woman" which if you don't know from Broadway you really should listen to as every wife, mother, hybrid mom can relate! Talk about multitasking! Speaking of children my son has a theme song in my head now whenever he is on the move, which is just about every waking second, it's the chorus of the 80's song "Break my stride":

"Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving"

It's so fitting as he is in constant motion and I can barely keep up. However I have a counter song, Simon and Garfunkel's "59th Street Bridge Song":

"Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy"

If it really came down to having to pick my life soundtrack by just one artist though that would have to be Sarah Mclachlan hands down. If I didn't know better I would swear she could read my mind and has been spying on my life. She is brillant and her music is beautiful. I have told my husband I would only leave him for two people, Sarah McLachlan and Jack Johnson! But only in pure innocence and fun and a slightly stalking fashion, I just want to follow them on tour and see every concert and then I would return to my fabulous husband as soon as the tour was over! The Beatles would be on that list too if it weren't for the sad facts that 1) they formed, conquered and broke up before I was even born and 2) only half of them are still living.
So, I am just wondering is all this mood music, memory music and theme songs make me odd? Am I the only person out there that does this? Honestly I probably have a song, or album in some cases, for most of my friends, places I have lived, jobs and definetly every major event in my life. So just for my sanity, does or can anyone else set their life to music too?

For those of you wondering, no my love of music and songs and such unfortunately doesn't transfer into any musical talent. However I would probably be a pretty good contestant on "Don't forget the lyrics" that's if anyone could stand to listen to me! And just for the record today was definitely a "Monday, Monday" by the Mamas and the Papas, haha!

TIME KEEPS ON SLIPPIN'

Just like my little guy couldn't catch the bathwater, today I definitely feel like I can't catch time. I can't believe my beautiful little baby is now officially a toddler, his first birthday! This past year has not always been easy but I feel so blessed to have him in my life and I wouldn't change a thing. I pray that the laughter has outweighed the tears. And I know that being his mother will continue to bring me more joy. Besides no matter how old he gets, he will always be my baby!
* Bonus points to anyone who can name the song and artist that the title of this post comes from.

ODE TO A FRIEND

I was inspired by Superhero Journal to write an ode to a friend. I would love for this to be elegant and articulate but as that is not my gift it will just have to be true. From all apparent looks and reason our friendship does not make sense. We seem to be opposites in just about every way. She is well-traveled, ambitious, professional and cultured. The only foreign country I have been to is Canada and I would rather wear jeans and flip-flops than a suit anyday. But for nearly 11 years now we have been friends. More than friends; confidants; supporters and comforters. We met in the dorm freshman year of college and though we have never lived so close since we have never left each other's side. She was the first person I told of my past abuse and the first I shared my sorrow after of my miscarriages. I called her the night I realized I was in love with my future husband and within minutes of the birth of my son. She is always willing to listen to my joys and my woes. We have shared adventures together like our trip to a ranch in Utah and time we thought we were going to a concert in Texas but ended up at Disneyland! But most of all we have shared laughs, millions and millions of laughs. And looking back at over a decade of frienship and loyalty I know that no matter our physical distance we are tied together because she is more than a friend, she has become part of my family.

HYBRID MOM

The phrase 'working mother' is redundant."
— Jane Sellman

"Being a working mom is not easy. You have to be willing to screw up at every level."
— Jami Gertz

"Working mothers are guinea pigs in a scientific experiment to show that sleep is not necessary to human life."
— Anonymous

That's right, I am now part of a target demographic and politicians are fighting for my vote as a working mother. However, to be honest I think all moms are working moms. To quote my husband after a few hours of watching the little guy alone, "No wonder you are so tired when I get home. Just chasing him around wore me out and we didn't even DO anything!" By do anything he meant laundry, cleaning, cooking, errands etc. all the usual things a mom does everyday. Finally he gets it, what I have been trying to tell him for months. Don't get me wrong my DH helps alot with the baby, with cooking not so much, but baby duty he is pretty reliable. And now I have gone and added to my workload by getting a part-time job. I am what I will refer to as a Hybrid Mom as I work in two different manners but cohesive in the whole picture. Am I crazy? So far I think I might be.

Thankfully, I am blessed to have my own mom watch the little guy. And considering how infatuated with each other they are, my only fear is he won't miss me. And more blessings, my job is really flexible if I need to trade days or come in later or leave early sometimes to accomadate doctor's appointments and such. The work is good too. It is something I am passionate about to begin with and have prior experience doing, youth violence, alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention. So that should make the transition easier, not to mention actually having to use some of the programs, procedures etc that I studied in college but hadn't ever put to use. Finally that student loan debt has a purpose, HA! First lesson learned, prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! This is key. Somethings less important have already been pushed off the table. Also, my beloved To Do lists are gold.

This was an incredibly difficult decision for me, particularly as my greatest fear is to not be a good mother. However, for the time being I am going to give this life as a Hybrid Mom a chance. Praying all the while that my baby still loves me when I get home and I can keep all my balls in the air as they say. Wish me luck! And if any other Hybrid Moms have some advice I would welcome anything you have to offer.