Bonding With My Son Through Music

The American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote,"Music is the universal language of mankind." I agree. Music has the power to unite people; it even has the power to connect generations.

During a parent-teacher meeting in my son's school, I was told by my son's adviser how surprised they were when Rap played "Sa Kabukiran" with his recorder. The class adviser and the Filipino teacher, who are both nearing their retirement year, ended up singing the song to the class. So I told them that the song was part of the repertoire that they performed in his Ryan Cayabyab music lessons during the summer. What happened was clear evidence on how music bridges generation gaps. I didn't know that Ralph had the time to appreciate the old folk song and even take time to learn how to play it with his instrument.

At home, it's the other way around. I am the one who ends up appreciating the music of his generation. I have no choice but to listen to it since the songs are stored in my laptop and I am the one who uploads the playlist to his mp3 player. I also listen to a youth-oriented pop radio station while I work so I get to listen to the current hits.

Surprisingly, there are new singers and songwriters who do produce good and meaningful songs. By the way, my current favorite is Taylor Swift and her Fearless album. She does write good songs that show her wisdom even at a young age. My briskwalking music, on the other hand, is Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. album. Sometimes, while walking, I even daydream of buying an audio system with a subwoofer much like the high performance home subwoofers I see in the malls. I want to listen to "Boom Boom Pow" with a boom, if you know what I mean. But I digress.

So Rap and I bond through music. It gives us something more to talk about aside from school work and home rules. Sometimes, it becomes the icebreaker when there's a conflict between us. I reach to him better with music-related conversations. Aside from thess, listening and singing the songs of his generation makes me feel younger and more of a cool mommy.

How about you? Have you tried listening to and singing the same songs with your child/ren lately? How has music bridge the generation gap in your home?