My six year old daughter has a new favorite song.  She asks for it every time we get in the car, and I am happy to play it, especially if it holds off any discovery of Miley Cyrus for at least a few more years.

Luckily, I have three versions of “Out Loud” by Dispatch…ranging from acoustic to a raucous live version with a children’s choir, to suit her every mood (and mine).  She knows all the words and sings them with a sweet little toothless grin.

She doesn’t know it, but I love watching her when music is on.  No matter what she’s doing, if it’s a song she likes, she’ll start grooving in a mindless, automatic kind of way.   She’ll give her opinion on any song, and her favorites are usually some of mine too.   Is she going to be the barefoot dancing girl in the flowy skirt at concerts 15 years from now?  I don’t know, but I sure love that she loves music too.

Today I listened to Out Loud without her around and suddenly it hit me, enough to bring tears to my eyes:

“If you were out walking, heard the cold night coming, would you call my name, cause you know I’d come running.”

No longer just a profession of love, this song has become, to me, an anthem to a mom’s love, and her kids growing up way too fast.  At least for now, both of my kids will still hold my hand in public, and I treasure it every time.