Inside: Here is a collection of happy tunes for moms that will put a smile on your face. I call it Happy Mommy Playlist đ
My dad died a decade ago, but whenever I hear one of his favorite songs, I feel like I just got a hugâŠ
Recently, I was having a bad day. Not the kind of day when something bad actually happens. Nope. It was just an ordinary day full of little frustrations that kept adding up until I was ready to burst.
Burst into tears.
Or maybe burst out angry words at the next person who crossed my path.
Or maybe just burst inside, you know. Because as a mom, you take care of your family by always looking like you have it all togetherâŠ
So, I unrolled my yoga mat, selected a yoga workout on my fitness app, and pushed âplay.â
âI see trees of green⊠red roses too⊠I see them bloom⊠for me and you⊠and I think to myself âŠwhat a wonderful worldâŠâ
By the time Louis Armstrong got to âthe colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky,â I had tears rolling down my face, but I was smiling too.
You know that feeling when someone you love very much hugs you, and you begin to feel like everything is going to be alright?
Thatâs how I felt at that moment. Right in the middle of my living room on a green yoga mat, through the tears, I was smiling and feeling like âall is well.â
I donât know if itâs because âWhat a Wonderful Worldâ is such a happy song and makes me think of my dad grinning ear to ear and bobbing his head to the beat. Or maybe because often music played during our childhood has the power to trigger a powerful emotional response.
I donât know what it is. But it works. And I love having a few songs that I think of as âmy dadâs songsâ that have the power to turn a bad day around, make me feel like he is close by, and put a smile on my face.
This got me thinking.
What songs do my kids associate with me? Could I give them a few happy songs to use as a hug when they need me and Iâm not around?
People have been using music for thousands of years to release their feelings, energize themselves, or get motivated. You probably already discovered the power of music to get you through that last mile (pushing a stroller full of children), the last rep of a tough workout (the toughest part being your child repeating, âare you done yet?â), or through a boring chore (anyone thinks cleaning pee off the bathroom wall is fun? Anyone?).
So, I decided to make myself a Happy Mommy Playlist to listen to when I need a pick-me-up, a smile, or a break.
The number one requirement was that it had to be songs that make me feel happy.
Why?
Because scientists tell us that when we blast our favorite feel-good songs, we release serotonin and other happy chemicals that our kids can actually feel and absorb.
After a bunch of experimenting and listening to a whole lot of songs, I ended up with a nice little collection that weâve been listening to a lot with my kids at home, in the car, or wherever else the moment moves us.
And Iâm sharing it with you in case you need the inspiration to start your own collection.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: For your convenience, I linked each song to Amazon Music. I participate in Amazon Affiliate program and get a commission from some purchases.
Happy Mommy Playlist
- Donât Worry Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
2. I Got You, James Brown
3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwoâole
4. Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles
5. Canât Stop the Feeling, Justin Timberlake
6. Happy, Pharrell Williams
7. Where Are You Now, Lost Frequencies
8. Put Your Records On, Corinne Bailey Rae
9. Iâm Like A Bird, Nelly Furtado
10. Dynamite, Taio Cruz
11. Dance Monkey, Tones And I
12. Walking on Sunshine, Katrina & The Waves
13. Iâm a Believer, Smash Mouth
14. What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
15. Iâm Yours, Jason Mraz
16. Boombastic, Shaggy
17. Hey Ya, Outkast
18. Unstoppable, Sia
19. Rise Up, Andra Day
