How I Rediscovered My Voice and Embraced My Inner Rock Star

home insemination Kit

“You and me, kiddo,” I say as she hops into the front seat, a slight smile on her face.

“Hey, Mom! Can we swing by Starbucks?”

I nod, feeling a tug at my heart. With her turning 13 soon, I’m all too aware of how precious our time together has become. So, Frappuccinos it is.

As she scrolls through SiriusXM, searching for Hits 1, she accidentally lands on the 80s station. I catch a few beats of a familiar tune before she switches it.

“Wait! Go back!” I exclaim.

It’s Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” I crank up the volume, letting the funky beat pulse through me. I can’t help but groove and sing along like I’m on stage.

But It Wasn’t Always Like This

I lost my voice years ago, back in the cramped backseat of a mustard-yellow Toyota wagon. I was just 11, teetering on the edge of awkward adolescence, when I was belting out Eddie Rabbitt’s “Love a Rainy Night.” Just as I was about to hit the chorus, my mom asked me to stop singing.

As a mom now, I totally get it—sometimes you just need a little quiet in the car to focus on driving. But back then, I took it to heart. I thought she was telling me my voice was terrible. That moment pushed me into silence during those formative years.

In junior high, I was forced into chorus because they needed altos, but I just stood there, lip-syncing. In high school, at parties, I would either shove chips in my mouth or sit quietly in the corner. Even in college, I might have sung if I was tipsy enough, but who can really mess up the Violent Femmes, right?

A Journey of Rediscovery

I wish I could say there was one huge moment that brought my voice back, but it was a series of them. Some were special, like when my fiancé and I sang “Killer Queen,” strengthening our bond. Others were unexpected, like discovering that my singing could calm my restless firstborn and my own frazzled heart. And some took real courage, like when I finally performed on stage with an amazing group of moms from my daughters’ school last year.

And now, in the car, I’m feeling that thrill again. I’m throwing my elbows out and swaying my head from side to side, all while driving—a move my friends and I call The Car Dance. As I dive into the lyrics, I glance at my daughter, Mia. She’s sporting that classic teenage mix of amusement and embarrassment.

“C’mon! I know you know the words!” I shout, half-laughing.

Just as I think she might leave me hanging, her face lights up, and she joins in, singing along with wild abandon. Her voice is full of life and energy, and I hope she never loses that spark.

Resources for Your Journey

If you’re interested in exploring more about the journey of parenthood and home insemination, check out this post on intracervical insemination. It’s an informative read! And for couples navigating their fertility journey, Make a Mom offers valuable insights. Additionally, News Medical is an excellent resource for anything pregnancy-related.

Conclusion

To sum it up, I lost my voice once, but through love, motherhood, and the joy of music, I found it again—and I’m never looking back.