Kay in Cal Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Do you sing your children as part of your bedtime routine? I often do, and as I sang tonight I realized how my repetoire is much the same as the songs my mother sang to me. My boys often have requests for particular songs, and singing for them in bed reminds me of how it was when I was a little girl. If you said "Yes!" to singing your kids to sleep, would you post your frequent repetoire? I'm interested to know what sort of songs other families sing as lullabies. My ds4's favorite lullaby is Hush, Little Baby. My ds6 usually asks for a "Jesus song"--anything from that category. When they were tiny babies, I mostly sang "Summertime... and the livin' is easy..." for them. I remember my mom singing "Turnaround", and it makes me cry to sing it every time. These are some of the ones we frequently sing-- Songs I sing that I remember my mom singing: Turnaround Sunrise, Sunset Hush Little Baby (Mockingbird) Summertime Where Have All the Flowers Gone Don't Fence Me In Oh, Give Me A Home Streets of Laredo Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye Maresy Doates Over the Rainbow Today, While The Blossoms Still Cling to their Vines Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening (the Frost poem set to music) Christmas carols at that time of year Rainbow Connection (we'd sing this together, but only after the movie came out, so I was a tween at the time) Songs I've added as a mom myself: Who We Are (by Sweet Honey in the Rock) We Shall Overcome If I Had a Hammer Down By the Riverside We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder John Henry All the Pretty Little Horses Lulla, Lulla, Lullabye, Sleep My Little Child The Stolen Child (version of the Yeats poem) A Cold Wind Blows over the Heather All in All (and a lot of contemporary praise songs) tons of hymns--Precious Lord, Take My Hand is my favorite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 could speak and put their little hands over their ears and say, "No more, please mommy!" I got kicked out of choir in high school. nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockermom Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 My Daddy and my Nana mostly sang to me at bedtime. My mom sang at other times. I remember my Nana (Daddy's mom) singing: a few songs in Spanish (she was from San Lorenzo, PR) Take Me Out to the Ballgame Over There Yankee Doodle The Star Spangled Banner Jesus Loves Me Daddy sang (that I remember): The Theme from Mahogany Que Sera Sera There was one he sang more than any other and my mind has gone blank.. I sing the following to my son: Take Me Out to the Ballgame (full verses.. he loves it) You Are My Sunshine Go Cubs Go Jesus Loves Me Amazing Grace One (from A Chorus Line... don't ask) many others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I haven't sung my kids to sleep since they were babies. But I sing to them everyday in casual conversation. They think I'm corny. They don't know I'm really hilarious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockermom Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I haven't sung my kids to sleep since they were babies. But I sing to them everyday in casual conversation. They think I'm corny. They don't know I'm really hilarious. I hope my son won't make the same error about me.... :D I just realized that my son still is a baby so my answer may not be relevant. Oh well, who wants to be relevant anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraceinMD Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Same as you, it was a memory I have of my mom singing to me. I would guess that I sang to ds every night of his life until he was at least 7. Much shorter list than yours, but the favs are: Tallis Canon (All Praise to Thee; all verses, over and over) Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night) In't Groene Dal (?sp? Dutch song) Sous le Ciel de Paris various hymns and three songs I wrote just for ds (and *sob* he actually asked me to sing one of them the other night! He's 11!) Great question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I sang "Summertime" to my babies, and a version of Brahm's lullaby that my mom made up. And I have "hunny-bunny" lyrics I put to "The Good Ship Lollipop!" Now that my children are older they've requested their own songs - Dd6 wants the standard Barney "I Love You" song which must be accompanied by her Dolly's dancing. Ds10 has made up his own lyrics (which I've sung every night for the last 5 years) that include the names of all stuffed animals he has ever had. Dh sings to dd6 at night. They sing a different hymn every week (repeating it every night for the week.) He has a different routine with ds10 which doesn't include singing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I sang my kids to sleep until they were about 4 years old, and so did DH. I do not have a good singing voice, but DH does, and he sang to the kids for a long time. Now, I can't sing those songs because when I do, I get very sleepy. DH sang a lot of patriotic songs to the kids. One of my favorite memories is how DS1, at ages 2 and up, used to belt out Battle Hymn of the Republic every time he put on his shoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Oh, don't worry. My kids like me to think they think I'm corny. They love it. It beats yelling. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I sing them to sleep until they are old enough to complain about my singing - then I threaten to sing to them if they don't go to sleep. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I don't sing often at bedtime anymore, but still occasionally. Other quiet times during the day, I'll sing lullabies though... Hush Little Baby The Riddle Song (Gave My Love a Cherry) Suo Gan Swing Low, Sweet Chariot I'll Fly Away Senora Santana (Why is your baby crying) The Water is Wide You Are My Sunshine Leatherwing Bat Wayfaring Stranger I'm sure there are more I can't think of... My mom was pretty self-conscious about her voice, and didn't sing to us terribly often. I do remember a little singing... I remember *her* mother singing "You Are My Sunshine" -- and her mother was not a tender woman, so it's one of the few really "gentle" memories I have of her. (I don't mean the only good memories -- I have other good memories of her -- but she just wasn't the affectionate, tender sort.) My dad's father sang to us to. Mostly ZippideeDooDah and Mares Eat Oats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I don't actually sing but play a lullaby tape that lasts about 30 minutes. I used to sing when they slept with me but the lullabies were a transition from having me sing them to sleeping on their own.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 My Mom did not sing to me, she was tone deaf. But there was music in the house, and I learned a lot at church and scout camp. My brothers and I used to sing on long car trips, I was usually the song leader. I sing a lot of those songs to my kids when they are little. When my kids get older, for some reason they are terribly embarrassed to hear me sing, but when they are young, they love it. I don't know what I'm going to do when the 4yo outgrows it. Songs I sing regularly at bedtime: Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves the Little Children Hush Little Baby Down By the Station I've Been Working on the Railroad This Land is My Land The Erie Canal If I Had a Hammer Molly Malone She'll be Coming 'round the Mountain Boom, Boom, Ain't it Great to Be Crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elisabeth in IL Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Unfortunately, if I sang my boys to sleep they would have nightmares all night long. I love the idea of being sung to sleep so you mothers who can sing - sing away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karenciavo Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Unfortunately, if I sang my boys to sleep they would have nightmares all night long. I love the idea of being sung to sleep so you mothers who can sing - sing away. Whenever I start singing my ds5 says, "Mom, please. Could you just put a cd in?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Actually, we usually sing together. My daughter and I started singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in harmony when she was about 6 or 7, I guess. Even now, when she is away from home more nights than not, when she is here, we sing that together. I have a larger repetoire with my son, although he definitely has a couple of favorites. For a few year, it was "Simple Gifts" most of the time, but he also likes songs from various shows he's been in. For a while, it was "Climb Every Mountain" from Sound of Music, for example. For the last couple of months, we've been doing duets of "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot. (Actually, I don't know the words to that one, so I just hum while he sings the Italian.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 could speak and put their little hands over their ears and say, "No more, please mommy!" I got kicked out of choir in high school. nuff said. This sounds like me. I sang to the first kid and he was polite about it. The next boy would start to cry as soon as I started singing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 We do Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton every night as part of the routine. Thankfully no one has complained about my singing yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn E Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Right now, and for over a year, the staple goodnight song for dd is "Hush, Little Baby." My routine is always sing the song, pray, start a cd, say goodnight. With my little guy, I'm always singing while I rock him, and he "sings" along. I like to sing "Hush, Little Baby" to lots of different tunes. Sometimes I sing hymns, praise songs, show tunes or other kid songs. I sang "Rock-a-bye Baby" all the time to dd when she was smaller. When she got older, I let her pick her goodnight song. She always picked the longest song she knew. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLHCO Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Only the little one currently. The big ones would think I'm weird. :p Currently it's a story, prayers, then "You are my sunshine" as the favorite with "Sleep my little bird" or another. I don't sing too many. I admit I get more rushed with her than I think I did with the older ones. I should think about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLHCO Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 could speak and put their little hands over their ears and say, "No more, please mommy!" I got kicked out of choir in high school. nuff said. My kids do that to me and I have a degree in vocal music. I pulled the curtain for a performance in the 6th grade and didn't make it into the "special" choir. I went on to sing opera on stage. I just assume they're being controlling when they say that to me. My son is the only one who's loved my singing. He must be the truest musician in the family. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I'm another tone-deaf mom. My 2yo will sit there and holler "TOP!" lol. sometimes they listen tho. My 4yog likes to hear "I know You!" from Sleeping Beauty [or as she calls it... The Princess Song" The one good memory i have of my mom was listening to her sing us to sleep. My guys have all had favorites: some VBS tunes Puff the Magic Dragon One Tin Soldier Blowing in The Wind El Paso [Marty Robbins.. i know, not exactly a lullaby....] Que Sera Sera [warm fuzzies -my mom sang it] Jimmy Crack corn Barges --from Girl Scouts The goodnight song --to the tune of Good Night Ladies, but substituting each person's name a few hymns: hark the voice of jesus I the Lord of Sea and Sky Amazing grace [to the tune of Gilligan's Island. dh likes to sing stuff from, oh, Led Zeppelin. I think the very first lullaby ever sung in our house was "Hot Blooded --check it and see......" hush little baby and rock a bye baby just give me the creeps. But so do mother goose poems, lol. we sometimes have a round of "make it up as we go along" and requests change depending on the day or movie we watched last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only me Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I made up a special song for each of them. I also sang Silent Night. It's funny that you should bring this post up. My dd (13) just brought up the topic this morning. A few years ago I remember telling her that it probably wouldn't be that much longer that I would sing to her. I didn't know it but at the time she cried herself to sleep. It gradually just faded away as the children got older and sometimes had later bedtimes then I did. My ds (10) will still occasionally request a song still. I miss those times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 i don't sing until they fall asleep, but we regularly gather in the younger boys' room and sing before bedtime. some of our faves: you're a grand ol' flag! this is my country the star-spangled banner my country tis of thee america the beautiful jesus loves me he's got the whole world (in his hands) father abraham jesus loves the little children songs from veggie tales the wheels on the bus senor don gato how much is that doggy in the window? twinkle twinkle little star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I voted "yes, always" but I would amend that to say, I don't sing them "to sleep", but rather, as your original posting clarified, it's part of the bedtime routine. I sing: Hush Little Baby (mockingbird) Sleep, Baby, Sleep Rock a Bye Baby I See the Moon Goodnight, My Love Lullaby and Goodnight Bye Baby Bunting Sail, Baby, Sail (used to make me cry) Baby Mine (also used to make me cry) The Itsy Bitsy Spider Hickory Dickory Dock Row, Row Your Boat I'm a Little Teapot Baa Baa Black Sheep Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (sometimes 2nd verse as well) Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves the Little Children The B-I-B-L-E I Believe in Miracles My Lord Knows the Way Through the Wilderness Countdown Song I have no idea what songs my mom sung to me when I was little. I don't remember. I'm sure I heard most of these songs when I was a child, but I "relearned" them for my kids through their toys, books, cds, etc... When I was in the upper elementary grades, my dad would wake us up in the morning with his worst possible rendition of "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning." We'd get up to make him stop the torture "Ok, I'm up! I'm up! Stop singing!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kribby Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 if I sang the poor kids would pass out and sleep for days, and I love being with my kids so no I wouldn't sing to them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Amazing grace [to the tune of Gilligan's Island. I learned that version at summer camp--love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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