Research and the Power of Dance

Research from the University of Calgary, a top ranking 'young' Canadian institution, has shown the profound influence dance has on those with Parkinson disease. In dance we think, we move, we are emotionally and physically connected to the music we hear. We utilize the whole body/brain in this coupling of music and movement. Dance is now being studied as a treatment option for those with a debilitating disease. Theory or solution?


Music's benefits have been proven, time and time again. It has given us something called the 'singing pacifier' to help preemies develop the sucking reflex as they listen to mom's lullabies. Then we have family song favourites being modified into lullabies, songs for easy listening for baby. ... We also have 'music therapy', helping to  reduce the stress and the pain that preemies suffer during their long-term stay in the incubator trying to regain health. From there we have a program called 'music memory' that assists dementia patients' recall  their personal past. ...(Momsey is not surprised.) Thirty-five years ago, a music box was placed in our severely premature baby's 'home' to help calm him as he endured the intrusion of various medical procedures during the first two months of life in the incubator.) ... What more has to be said or written about music and its powerful effect on our overall health and lives?? It is an incredible tool for life, as well as incredible educational partner for learning challenged children.


Today's society is well connected through technology. The very tools that connect us can also isolate and alienate us, too. .. In our own family, music formed a large part of our sons' early years.The trumpet, clarinet, baritone, keyboard and French-Horn were important parts of their musical training/careers beginning in grade 4 until the end of high school. (Dad has grade ten piano; the Momsey, simple background of high school vocal music, choir and musical productions.) ... (Lucy, my editor, has incredible musical expertise that spans decades.) Music calms, energizes, brings joy and builds memory. It's society's glue! ... Music and dance's burgeoning societal impact became apparent to me in my grade 8 gym class. Coed square dancing was introduced then and soon became my passion that year; its grip on me, spellbinding. Following directions to music while creating this dance circle was cool. It was socialization, at its best, a meet and greet, a way to build confidence and self-esteem. It connected real people in a real world 'musical' scenario.

Dance gives meaning to beat and rhythm, while unleashing the human potential that lies beneath us in this blanket of 'structured' noise. As we move, we innocently improve co-ordination, balance and confidence. ... Done with other people, dance moves to a higher plateau, requiring trust, courage, concentration, thinking and memory. It helps to build vocabulary, as well... With special needs children, dance can be the curriculum, a first step to opening the door to their learning potential and goals. ... Dance lays bear the raw intelligence that resides within the vulnerable child but is unable to surface. ... As the University of Calgary's premise states: dance is about intellectual, emotional and physical health. ... Its effect on the mind and body is now being researched and documented. ... Music and dance can be education's dynamic partners, everyday and from the beginning. With these musical tools, we step outside our lives, for one brief moment and realize our capacity to grow. Music's link to learning and health can no longer be ignored, as startling research is now beginning to show.

The University of Calgary has given all of us something to ponder. ...Has dance's strong link in the treatment of serious medical disorders opened up the doors for its advantages to be seriously considered in the learning lives of young at-risk children? ... The risk of failure is always uppermost in the minds of these special children, who, at times, are fearful, shy and timid. With dance and music at their side, deep learning begins its magical journey. ... Dance can be this marvelous tool just as it is for people with Parkinson's disease. ..Let us open the door and let the music in. Would you like to dance? ... (I think the Momsey must find the courage to create a You Tube video about special children and dance. But she is an old lady, after all, and must remember that!!)

It Happened at the Mall. ...

We'd been at the mall when it started. The shop, one of many on our shopping tour that day, was a new store selling an interesting array of gadgets, all seeming to beckon for our son's attention and ultimate purchase. Our little guy had been smitten by one such gadget. ... The relentless 'yelling game' had begun. ... 

We were at home when our youngest disclosed his feelings for something he had seen at the store at the mall and his wish to buy it. 'It' had begun talking to him there but was now 'yelling' at him- at home. It was serious. I now understood. This matter would not go away. (I could have bought it or said 'no' outright.- neither, a solution for our child in this financial learning scenario.) ...

Our 9 year old was a reasonable person, (still is) always ready to wash the kitchen floor, care for the dogs, eat his vegetables and so on. He was always on top of his game, at home and at school. He was so worth it, but so was his future. ... We had spoken about things 'talking to you' when we were out shopping, but that it was no reason to buy. There were many nice things out there now and more arriving later, but it was still no reason to buy. 

I sat and listened as our son spoke of the impact 'it' had made on him. I asked about 'its' importance. It was. Very. We continued talking. No problem, I remarked. "Save half the purchase price and I'll give you the other half", I said. ... (Arguing was never a concern in this regard because the answer was always , "Sure, save half".) The conversation ended on a high note and gave the power back to our son for the final say in the matter. His portion of the cost always seemed greater than ours, anyway! ... With 'old' money in the bank, where it would remain, 'new' money had to be found for his current purchase. Our son began to work around the house to earn his share of the cost, a tedious exercise that never seemed to end. ...

The words and thoughts of children matter very much. Our words matter, too, generally being the final say in any discussion with our children. Using the word 'No”' takes up little space, on a page, but has a residual, powerful effect on a child, when spoken, indiscriminately and often. Eventually, the child stops talking and asking. Since they have no power or influence, they can be ignored, on a whim. Children need and deserve answers. ... (There are no stupid questions, anyway) Saying no is easy for us but its meaning has incredible life altering power when spoken to a child.. The word can seem like a knife, piercing through the heart of a young child when uttered, even once. It can build resentment that lasts. 'No' can literally shut down a conversation and the child. ... (A child is no match for an adult, anyway!) 

Children deal in the present. The future is an abstract concept to them, blurred by time. (It is hard for us, sometimes, almost always impossible for them to understand the passage of time!) ... Not listening to a child's request sends a wrong message to him: that he and his wishes don't matter. Could this be the beginning of  "I can't talk to mom or dad because they don't listen or understand me" debate?...Children are very reasonable people and in the final analysis, will always make the right decision when given all the facts: Everything costs something and is the thing you want so much worth your financial sacrifice? 

As time passed, our son saved his hard earned income for that special purchase. But by the time his share of the cost had accrued, the lustre and urgency of the purchase had been lost. ... We all shared in the win! ... Time had left its mark, dampening the desire our son felt for a material possession he thought was very important, at the time. The 'yelling' had stopped. I was not surprised. He'd worked too hard and too long to just throw his money away on something that was no longer that important to him. Mark now realized the shopping world was full of 'yelling' experiences but only a few would win the 'screaming match'. The instant gratification portion of this future purchase had been modified and eliminated. 

Our son had learned a very valuable lesson in the shopping game. He was satisfied with his decision not to buy.  A buying mistake had been averted. He could not remember what the fuss was all about, anyway. He was moving onto to other more important matters, requiring his attention. He would be more selective at this 'yelling game'. Maybe, one day, he would become a musician, director or a scientist. Those careers needed more money than he had right now in the bank and buying unimportant stuff would only hinder in the attainment of those financial goals.

We must not dampen our children's enthusiasm for changing their lives, in small incremental ways. The  endless marketing machine is relentless, persistent in its lure to help 'them' out any way it can, to be sure. Its 'indomitable spirit' never gives up.. Neither should ours!

The MomseyBlog Second Anniversary

Today is the second anniversary of the Momsey blog. It has been a compelling 'write' of passage for me, this past year. I have learned so much simply by watching and listening to others. The three most popular topics, so far, have been about puppies and kittens, Wonder bread and The Momsey. I am humbled by the interest.


Momsey is tired of the game of menu disappointment. ... Your entree arrives, downsized, again. The price has changed, also. A double hit is not nice!  Another step in the wrong direction. Some places do it. Others do not. Value is value or it's not! Not nice. ... I love my animals more and more. They never disappoint. ... Cooking is the best way to save money, regain health and exert control over our bodies and our lives!! Some cooking shows can help. Others seem to think cooking is an art form. It's not. It is basic preparation of fuel for human health. High temps. like 475 or 500 or higher for pizza in brick ovens for vegetables and roasts never make health sense. High temps. in baking carb products causes them to be more harmful. Something about acrylamides being produced this way. Not good. Be careful. According to one doctor, we were never meant to eat carbs. But I love Italian Rum Cake! ... Our dogs love fresh fruits and vegetables. ..(Mall Cop mistakenly thought kitchen compost of vegetable and fruit matter was on his menu. He didn't know). ... When eating meat, Mall Cop reminds me that he'd like some, too. He's a cute little guy, always wanting to come to dinner. If black bears can thrive on berries and honey and look that menacing to us, then plant foods must have powers we are ignoring. Maybe, we are not that smart, after all. ... Looking at cows makes me think we need to take a step back to see the humanity in all animals. Going vegan or vegetarian once or twice a week is a good thing, I think.


Using coconut oil in cooking and baking is now a part of my routine. .. It is a more expensive oil whose properties are different than other oils, in general. It has superb health benefits for heart and metabolism. Subtle substitutions are made, whenever possible. The taste and crunch of sweet potatoes are greatly enhanced when I use coconut oil. It has much to show me. ... Making a chocolate cake, the other day, taught me a valuable lesson in 'it's never too late' to make a change. ... As the cake was being put into oven, I soon realized that 1 cup of liquid had been mistakenly omitted. (I had been wondering why vanilla extract had not been included, when I spotted the error) ... A cup of buttermilk - not vanilla extract - had been forgotten. I removed the cake from the hot oven, and as quickly as possible, emptied the contents into a bowl and added the 'forgotten' liquid: another cup of coffee. (I had no buttermilk/milk). Mixing by hand as quickly as possible, I then returned the freshly renewed batter to the oven and hoped I had not affected its baking results. It became one of the best cakes I'd made-according to others. Next time I will know. It's never too late.. ...I'm tired of the search for simple, unadorned healthy hamburger buns. I decided to make my own, in frustration. ... A lull in baking had me rethinking everything. Now, I have a renewed interest in baking this and that, using different fats. Homemade has more flavour, costs a fraction of store made version and pleases the brain. Over-eating is not easy when you cook at home. The pleasure sensors of the brain are activated and the hunger hormone is satiated with home cooking. Could it be the food is cleaner and more nourishing all around? ... Don't forget the salads, the unadorned plant foods that keep us healthy. Maple syrup and honey have health benefits, too. Have we come full circle?


Marriage has formed a large part of my life. During that time I have become smarter and more interesting- because of the people in it. I've watched, listened and then acted. ... The people I have met and helped create have created the Momsey, the exciting version of me. I now have business  cards. We should all have them. They are cute reminders that encapsulate our lives in very small print. They show we exercised free will and here is the result. They motivate us to continue. ... I recently attended a musical recital. Wow! What a demonstration of courage and dedication. ... Lucy, the editor of the Momseyblog, was the ringleader!! ... Music is an important component of a life, well-lived, for peace, harmony, excitement, intellectual growth and health. It is the nucleus of the human mind. It is society's glue. Talent is one thing; executing it, another. Let us pay homage to those who give us the gift of music. Great performances, students!

The Fall That Rocked My World

The full speed hit came out of nowhere. As I lay on the ground that morning, one week ago, I slowly began to crawl along the frigid snowy surface, hoping to pull myself up to get inside. ... (The cavalry would not arrive.).. My Mr. Wiggles had entered my airspace at a phenomenal speed, from behind, throwing me onto the ground, most unceremoniously. Had my muscles 'squeaked'? Had my leg moved in two different directions?... He kept on going, his innocent little face wondering why his compatriots -Mall Cop and the girls-were fussing so, over the body that lay there in a heap.

A few good laughs helped as I pulled myself up and limped slowly into the house with a gaggle of pups all over me. (The groans of an older member of the human race were new to them). Should we lick her, jump on her or just bark until help arrives? My ally in this current medical dilemma, weeks before this day, had been the incredible voice of Kelly Clarkson.  It had to have been. How else could I be crawling then standing, after what had just happened? Her music had prepared me for today's high speed 'bump' on an old lady by a sweet young thing. ...(Of course, a lifetime of  'musical production numbers' had helped prepare me for this latest medical encore event, too)

Several weeks earlier, my husband had bought me Ms. Clarkson's Chapter One- Greatest Hits DVD. . While on a business trip, my love of over 40 years bought it, knowing I would love it.  He was quite familiar with many of her songs: Stronger, Catch my Breath and People Like Us, to name a few. (I am addicted to her music) ...I have played it almost daily - in its entirety - because it enthralls me, excites me and simply makes me happy as I dance. ... (I love music)  I move at every opportunity, as I carry on my inside and outside duties. (I must stay strong if good health is to follow. ..(I have never stopped being that 13 year old who fell in love with square dancing, in gym class long, long ago)

With the knowledge of the health benefits of raw apple cider vinegar, with maple syrup added to mask its pungent taste and water, I began drinking the magic potion soon after I fell that morning. (I had to stay strong, especially, today. It was doggie daycare time.) Maple syrup has its own health benefits, too ,- an unbeatable combination. ... This simple drink would begin the healing process from within, almost immediately. My 'musical life' of the last few weeks had also readied my body for the event that played out early that freezing cold morning. The upending of an old lady, who simply loves music and loves to dance, was now a test to the recovery process. (Had I broken any bones?) ...Though my foot/ankle and knee began their ritualistic swelling and bruising, my concern rested with the possibility of a broken bone, somewhere, deep inside. With a diagnosis of osteoporosis many years ago and other falls, here and there, I was suspiciously certain a bone might be fractured. How could it not be? I was an old lady who exercised at home with wood, dogs, music and a cat, not in the gym. This latest fall was it. I had entered the big leagues. ... A visit to my doctor - 6 days later - would finally restore my faith in my body. I had not broken a bone!   Using my leg as a visual aid, the doctor explained that I had broken a blood vessel when I slammed the hard surface. ... Yes, I had slammed icy ground!. ...Ouch!  What a relief! I was so happy to hear the news.!! I hadn't broken a precious bone, just a blood vessel. ...I could now relax. Everything my middle son had recommended in the early days following the accident: ten minutes of cold, to reduce swelling, to the 10 minutes of heat, to promote healing/ each hour, had been correct. (He has a health degree and is my go to guy on health matters) ... The doctor had agreed with this on/off strategy. What a team effort. I had been saved to walk and dance, again.

Strength is our biggest ally, as we age. Retaining it is a must and a critical daily reminder of our state of health. As women, we must remind ourselves that acting our age or acting like ladies is not always in our best interests. Holding or opening that heavy door for the gentleman behind you is a smart thing. Lifting wood, heavy boxes or several bags of groceries is also a way to maintain and restore muscle mass/ligaments and bones. Do not rely upon medication. .. It does not always work!...  An active healthy lifestyle always does!

I learned a valuable lesson, that morning, as I crawled, wincing, moaning and 'caterwauling' on the snow covered icy ground. Be certain the 'puppies' you supervise do not have another plan in mind that includes you, without your permission!. Keep yourself strong because you never know. Strength can determine outcome... Being pretty does not help in recovery. Being strong and active does. The swelling and discolouration will vanish, one day, because the steps taken, beforehand, prepared you for that painful medical event. Listening to music is a healthy first step, in building strength and agility, because it can lead to other energetic pursuits.. Falls are nothing to joke about. They can lead to deadly consequences, anytime, anywhere! ... My dear sweet Mr. Wiggles is now on my 'watch list'! ...