From Lullabies to Life Lessons: How Motherhood and Music Shape the Soundtrack of Our Lives

As we continue the conversation regarding music, I can vividly remember growing up and DJing on my parents’ cassette tapes. Yes, I said cassette tapes. No iPad, no phones, before mp3s. We listened to gospel, blues, pop, hip-hop, and lots of R&B. My mother’s favorite song was Maxwell’s cover of “A Woman’s Worth.”

For many women, a music connection with their children naturally begins with the idea of being with a child. Your own voice sounds like music to a baby in the womb, and if you’re a natural humming mama like me, it sounds even sweeter. Babies know your voice before being born. Then you move on to lullabies that exist within every culture. Music is also known to help with postpartum depression. For many mothers like me, music has helped create routines, wake-up routines, clean-up routines and calming playlists. 

Some of the world’s most popular tunes reflect back on relationships with mama. Music from Boys II Men, Tupac, Jamie Foxx, Ciara and many more. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports that 75% of older adults use music for stress relief and 65% for mental wellness. 

How Deep the Connection Between Motherhood and Music Goes

The link between music and motherhood continues for Louisiana News Anchor, Sydney Simone. For her, motherhood isn’t yet a lived experience but a deeply imagined one shaped by faith, family values and the soundtrack of her upbringing. She says she’s not a mother, but hopes to become one in the future, “if it’s God’s will, the time is right, and with the right person.” Until then, her understanding of motherhood is rooted in observation, reflection and the relationship she shares with her own mother, whom she describes as a steady, evolving presence in her life.

She describes her mother as being like the song “Masterpiece” by Jazmine Sullivan. “Mothers often say their greatest creations are their children, and I consider myself a masterpiece handmade by God,” she says. Another song she would probably choose is “Brick House” by the Commodores. She always joked that I had a beautiful, athletic, but curvy shape that she admired,” Simone notes. Many women like me can experience a shift in their musical tastes when they become mothers. Caring about the type of lyrics our children hear. 

The song “As” instantly makes Simone think of her mother. She tells me “Songs in the Key of Life” was her grandfather’s favorite album, and “As” is a favorite. “Stevie sings, ‘As around the sun the Earth knows she’s revolving and the rosebuds know to bloom in early May,’ followed by the chorus, ‘I’ll be loving you always,'” Simone says. “That reminds me of motherhood because a mother’s love is always evolving, just like your relationship with your mom should be. My mom and I always say, ‘I love you with all my heart.’ So that chorus really connects with us,” she continues.

More Songs That Are the Soundtrack to Simone’s Relationship With Her Mom

Simone says motherhood means a mother’s love grows alongside her greatest creation. It’s never fixed, always evolving, yet steady in what it gives. It’s nurturing and patient, offering guidance without control and advice without judgment. It protects in ways you don’t always see. Standing strong when you need covering, and gently stepping back when you are ready to stand on your own.

“Over time, it shifts into something deeper, where a mother becomes more than a parent, but your friend in adulthood, someone you can laugh with, lean on and learn from. It becomes a relationship that grows both ways, where wisdom is shared, lessons are traded and understanding deepens with every stage of life. Through it all, a mother’s love remains constant and unconditional,” Simone adds. 

“Superwoman” by Alicia Keys evokes memories of childhood and Simone’s view of her mother’s strength. “Whenever I asked for something, she would jokingly say, ‘What do you think I am, Superwoman?’ My answer was always yes. As a child, I believed she knew how to do everything and could handle anything,” she says. “Another song that connects us is ‘Stay’ by The Temptations. While it’s not a traditional Mother’s Day song, it’s one we both love.”

Simone’s mother often reminds her that it was the only song she wanted to hear before bed as a toddler. “For some reason, its sound resonated deeply with me. The song also feels personal because I was born in Detroit, and The Temptations, one of Motown’s most iconic groups, are from Detroit as well,” she concludes.

Featured image credit: Sydney Simone