close
SM-Stamp-Join-1
  • Selfish Mother is the most brilliant blogging platform. Join here for free & you can post a blog within minutes. We don't edit or approve your words before they go live - it's up to you. And, with our cool new 'squares' design - you can share your blog to Instagram, too. What are you waiting for? Come join in! We can't wait to read what YOU have to say...

  • Your basic information

  • Your account information

View as: GRID LIST

Love My Music?

1
To quote John Miles, ‘Music was my first love’, – and always has been. First gig at 10 and I haven’t looked back since. Pre pregnancy summers were festivals, in winter there was nothing better than being in a dark room with a band on stage. Most of my pocket money as a teenager was spent on vinyl. Most of my philosophy on life is based on the words of 90s indie songs!

So when pregnant with baby number one I made a promise to myself, that I would still go to gigs – OK not as many as before I knew that would change. In fact, I remember the exact

SelfishMother.com
2
moment that change happened. August 2006 at V festival watching The Charlatans when I suddenly heard my voice saying, “I think I might move back a bit, it’s too loud”. Those are words my pre pregnancy self, had never uttered!

Once Baby 1 arrived I continued gigging. Arctic Monkeys at Old Trafford was my first gig back. Baby number 2 and, with a baby and toddler, gigs had to take a back seat for a while but I soon had at least one set of tickets on the go at any time. Pregnancy number 3 and Pulp announced their Hyde Park concert – that was not

SelfishMother.com
3
one to miss.

Having to say ‘No I’m not going down the front’ was never easy but with either a little one growing inside or boobs so sore I felt I might cry, I was going nowhere near that seething mass! But 3 children later and music is still big in my life – and in theirs.

We always have music on in the car. Pregnancy one was to the soundtrack of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. This had the advantage that singing Mardy Bum to my new born settled him immediately! Now in the car it’s a family sing-a-long with parts for

SelfishMother.com
4
everyone and dance moves from the youngest.

Festivals continue too, if in a slightly different way. From the kids being young we’ve taken them to family festivals. Last summer we headed off to Camp Bestival for a third time; a brilliant few days together. My one regret – that we’ve never braved Glastonbury with kids.

I mentioned to a friend that I could, soon, go back to ‘normal’ festivals without the kids– she pointed out that would probably coincide with my eldest going to festivals with friends. That could be tricky to

SelfishMother.com
5
negotiate!

Gradually, the boys have started asking to see bands they like – with me. Sometimes this has been good – Clean Bandit, Anne Marie. Sometimes this has been not so good – no names here! And sometimes surprising. After years of saying I wouldn’t see Take That I saw them, at Fusion Festival. Turns out they’re quite good!!

And then it happened. In the spring of 2018 Arctic Monkeys announced dates for their next tour and I started planning who I was going with, working out if I could get a pre-sale etc. Suddenly my eldest asked if he

SelfishMother.com
6
could come along and pay for part of it with this pocket money! So in September 2018 I headed off to see Arctic Monkeys with my sister, my 16-year-old nephew and my 11-year-old son. Such a great night.

An old gig buddy asked recently, “Can you make your kids like the music you do?”. I think the answer is no – you can’t make someone like the music you do. But you can give them a love of music, help them appreciate live music and support them as they find the music they like. And you never know you might just like it too.

SelfishMother.com

By

This blog was originally posted on SelfishMother.com - why not sign up & share what's on your mind, too?

Why not write for Selfish Mother, too? You can sign up for free and post immediately.


We regularly share posts on @SelfishMother Instagram and Facebook :)

- 29 Jan 20

To quote John Miles, ‘Music was my first love’, – and always has been. First gig at 10 and I haven’t looked back since. Pre pregnancy summers were festivals, in winter there was nothing better than being in a dark room with a band on stage. Most of my pocket money as a teenager was spent on vinyl. Most of my philosophy on life is based on the words of 90s indie songs!

So when pregnant with baby number one I made a promise to myself, that I would still go to gigs – OK not as many as before I knew that would change. In fact, I remember the exact moment that change happened. August 2006 at V festival watching The Charlatans when I suddenly heard my voice saying, “I think I might move back a bit, it’s too loud”. Those are words my pre pregnancy self, had never uttered!

Once Baby 1 arrived I continued gigging. Arctic Monkeys at Old Trafford was my first gig back. Baby number 2 and, with a baby and toddler, gigs had to take a back seat for a while but I soon had at least one set of tickets on the go at any time. Pregnancy number 3 and Pulp announced their Hyde Park concert – that was not one to miss.

Having to say ‘No I’m not going down the front’ was never easy but with either a little one growing inside or boobs so sore I felt I might cry, I was going nowhere near that seething mass! But 3 children later and music is still big in my life – and in theirs.

We always have music on in the car. Pregnancy one was to the soundtrack of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. This had the advantage that singing Mardy Bum to my new born settled him immediately! Now in the car it’s a family sing-a-long with parts for everyone and dance moves from the youngest.

Festivals continue too, if in a slightly different way. From the kids being young we’ve taken them to family festivals. Last summer we headed off to Camp Bestival for a third time; a brilliant few days together. My one regret – that we’ve never braved Glastonbury with kids.

I mentioned to a friend that I could, soon, go back to ‘normal’ festivals without the kids– she pointed out that would probably coincide with my eldest going to festivals with friends. That could be tricky to negotiate!

Gradually, the boys have started asking to see bands they like – with me. Sometimes this has been good – Clean Bandit, Anne Marie. Sometimes this has been not so good – no names here! And sometimes surprising. After years of saying I wouldn’t see Take That I saw them, at Fusion Festival. Turns out they’re quite good!!

And then it happened. In the spring of 2018 Arctic Monkeys announced dates for their next tour and I started planning who I was going with, working out if I could get a pre-sale etc. Suddenly my eldest asked if he could come along and pay for part of it with this pocket money! So in September 2018 I headed off to see Arctic Monkeys with my sister, my 16-year-old nephew and my 11-year-old son. Such a great night.

An old gig buddy asked recently, “Can you make your kids like the music you do?”. I think the answer is no – you can’t make someone like the music you do. But you can give them a love of music, help them appreciate live music and support them as they find the music they like. And you never know you might just like it too.

Did you enjoy this post? If so please support the writer: like, share and comment!


Why not join the SM CLUB, too? You can share posts & events immediately. It's free!

I'm Alison. Mum of 3 – friend – freelance writer and facilitator – lover of indie music – festival goer – love reading but never have enough time … – so read magazines instead! – tea drinker – Liverpool FC follower – runner – and more!

Post Tags


Keep up to date with Selfish Mother — Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media