Music Can Tame Even the Wildest Beast

As a new parent you HATE to hear your child cry. When Taylor starts to fuss, we go through the list of possible triggers: Is she wet/dirty? Is she hungry? Is she tired? Is she cold/hot? Did she smell one of Daddy's farts? Does she want a different channel on TV? But sometimes there just is no logical answer and we resort to other methods of soothing.  We've spent hours pacing, bouncing, swaying, cooing, talking, reading, and even crying along with her on a rare occasion.

One day as a last resort, I put together some songs that remind me of Taylor in a playlist on our iTunes.  I played those songs while I danced and sang along. I was shocked to see that by the middle of the first song she was quiet. She dosed through the second and was out cold by the third song!  The last 3 songs were just for good measure.  I tried it again the next day and again, it worked like a charm! We now sing, dance and sleep everyday at least once. Now when she is crying unconsolably, I start her playlist.  Before the words of the first song start, she is calm!

Each song on her list has some sort of significance.  What are these magical songs, you ask?  Well here they are:

Taylor's Playlist

1. Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show - The chorus starts "rock me Mama like a wagon wheel..."  I sing this to her when I'm rocking her to sleep.

2. Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III - The title says it all. Plus it's a great song!!

3. Father and Daughter by Paul Simon - Not only is this a touching song, but it was the song that my dad and I danced to at my wedding. 

4. You're the World to Me by David Gray - Again, the title says it all but this was also a back-up song for our first dance at our wedding.

5. Taylor by Jack Johnson - Enough said. Just don't listen to all the words. It's about a prostitute named Taylor!!

6. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Rai by Bing Crosby - An Irish lullaby for our Irish lass. This is also the song her Grandma 'Chele sang to her during her visit here.

The funny thing is, her favorite song is Wagon Wheel.  There is something about the tempo, the twang in his voice or the pluck of the banjo that sooths her. Either way, it works and I'm not arguing.  Now my biggest concern is wearing them out!!