The Soundtrack for Our Lives

The sounds in our households, tell a lot about what stage of life we are in. From newlywed, to newborns, on through to the empty nest. I noticed this strange nuance one weekend morning, just as the sun was rising. As I looked out of my kitchen window, at the peaceful sway of the leaves atop the trees, I could not help but notice, the serenity of a household, that just a few years ago, would have been jumping.

Even early in the morning, the blare of MTV on all television sets, CDs playing simultaneously. with the hum of hair dryers, and the rattle of video game play. This, was summer vacation; school was out, and the day was beginning in a household with four children, three of which, were teenagers, at the same time. I was a young bride and mother when I had my children, so occasionally, I might join in; if the music sounded good to my ears. That , and it didn't hurt my "cool quotient", if I could , at least, still relate to them on a musical level.

In this quiet solitude, I reminisced, about the days when they were babies; my husband and I marveled at every little milestone in their development. The house was, at times, chaotic, but the sounds were much different. Sesame Street and Nickelodeon, were constants on the our viewing agenda, and all things Disney. Our family movie time,consisted of the latest Disney animated masterpiece, often repeated on a nightly basis. Story time, with favorite books, read over and over again, and the tucking in of our little angels, capped off each night; at which time, our house reverted from kid central, to adult sanctum and sanctuary. This quiet time, was important for us, as it allowed us to rejuvenate for the next day. With each new day, the sounds in this house, were filled with joy and happiness.

Growing up in my parent's household, with eight other siblings, I got used to the hustle and bustle, that is a natural component of a large family. Couple that with highly opinionated individuals, and there is constant chatter; each person needing to find a quiet place to sit and gather their thoughts, or just to be. We were fortunate to have a large home, which allowed for such solitude.

Fast forward to graduation time, and young adulthood; and although we are not complete empty nesters, things have gotten a lot quieter. The sounds in our household for each stage, have become the soundtrack for our lives. I look forward to how the ensuing years will unfold, and what the tune and pitch will be. Perhaps the cycle will begin again, as our children become the parents, and we become grandma and grandpa. We will visit, and most assuredly, hear the familiar sounds of life, going on all around us. This, I have come to find, is the sweetest music to the ear.