Did I Hear Party?

“Be Be, Do you want to come to my dance party?” When Molly was born, I decided to create a ritual. On her 1st, 2nd and now 3rd birthday, I make her a CD, and I am creating a personalized music library over the course of my granddaughter's life. I add songs by artists that her mom and I liked when we were younger. Basia, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Molly may never have known these artists otherwise. After all, who knows what music will be around 20 years from now?

This 3rd birthday was a real treat because Molly, like grandma, loves music and we love the same songs now. This year's CD included some of my favorite spinning music, after asking my daughter (Molly's mom) if it was acceptable to use the songs. My daughter asked that I be careful with my selection and the message the songs might convey. I think this sentence is important because I am still learning as a relatively new grandma to ask before I do things for my grandchildren and to respect the parents' wishes.

Once I got my daughter's stamp of approval, I asked her what Molly's favorite song is. The answer? Molly's favorite song for 2011 is “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. I ended this year's birthday CD with the song, which must have helped the CD to be the ultimate mix of tunes for Molly. Now every time I visit, my granddaughter asks me to come to her dance party, and we dance our time away. Hopefully we will chuckle about this when Molly one day picks her wedding song.

I also believe birthdays and holidays are important occasions to create rituals. Mother's Day is coming, and what you plan can be a ritual for your family to share each year for those living and those who may no longer be with us. How can you honor your mom, grandma, aunt, mother-in-law, step mom? Should this day be acknowledged or should every day with your family be honored with respect?

I am all for holidays, as I feel it gives us a moment to zone out from work and stress and think about our family. My ritual request for Mother's Day would be to have a pj party with my grandchildren and have the parents all come for lunch or dinner. Most likely this year I will go visit my mom in Florida.

Maybe family vote is order to send via e-mail:

1. Have brunch together yes/no
2. Invite all the parents, stepparents and grandparents together to make a potluck lunch yes/no
3. Spend time alone with your mom yes/no
4. Have alone for grandparents and grandchildren yes/no
5. Have time alone without grandparents yes/no
6. Pick a different day to celebrate yes/no

And now what you all have been waiting for… As you celebrate Mother's Day, enjoy the playlist I made for Molly's 3rd birthday and may you always walk on sunshine.

Molly's Birthday CD

• Molly's personalized Happy Birthday
• Firework
• Just the Way You Are
• Bingo was His Name
• Dynamite
• Empire State of Mind
• I Gotta a Feeling
• Break Your Heart
• Beautiful Day
• You Are the Sunshine of My Life
• Wind Beneath My Wings
• Walking on Sunshine