Concocting genius

I don’t know about other people, but when I was still in high school, I heard that listening to classical music helps you study and perform better. So I got my dad’s classical CDs and played them while I prepared for a Math test. I suppose you can say that I was cramming. Did I get a better grade than usual? I really can’t tell. I was what my guidance counselors and class advisers through the years loved to call an underachiever.

Fast forward years later to present time, and I still encounter variations of that theory: from the time I was pregnant until just about now. Do I make my baby listen to classical music? Well, we started late on that, unless you count the Star Wars score that he must have heard countless times in the womb.

We don’t really buy into the theory. Matthew is exposed to various kinds of music, anything from Satriani to Bowie to Jack Johnson to Flaming Lips to Lauryn Hill. But while surfing through Amazon.com, I saw a recommended link, Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics. It is described as “a 17-track, 35-minute concert featuring a collection of soothing classical melodies perfect to calm little ones as they wind down for nap time, bedtime or a bit of quiet time.” I’ve heard of and seen the Baby Einstein brand, but I decided against buying it (thinking it unnecessary), then ultimately forgot about it.

But with the link reminding me of its existence, I clicked on it and indulged in my curiosity by listening to their streaming samples. It was okay, not spectacular, and reviews were quite encouraging. Next thing I knew, we had downloaded albums: Baby Mozart, Baby Beethoven, Baby Back, Baby Vivaldi, Baby Einstein: Playtime Music Box, and Baby Einstein: Animal Classics. I guess now I can make up for lost time.

Then a couple of days ago, I chanced upon an article, aptly titled: “Does Classical Music Make Kids Smarter?” Apparently, no. The bottomline: “…there is no Mozart effect. Since it was first publicized over a decade ago, scientists have deflated claims that [listening to] classical music boosts brainpower.”

What’s with this pressure to make kids geniuses anyway? And always with a shortcut: the right milk, the right music, the right toys, and it goes on and on. Poor babies will burn out before they get to preschool!

So now what? Well, classical music is still on rotation, alongside rock, jazz, the blues and the regular type of baby tunes and lullabies. It’s something he’ll have to learn to like on his own. After all, nothing, even if it’s supposed to be “good for you,” should be force-fed. I’m sure no one appreciates the pressure.

The path to genius, really, must be more complicated than popping a CD or choosing the right brand of formula. My baby is only 2 months old; everyday is a step towards learning — for him and for me.

No more excuses

‘ve never been really big on making resolutions when the new year comes by. At least, I don’t think so. But I’d also somehow have some goals in my head, coupled with a gut feel of what the year is going to be like.

It’s just the same this time around, except now I am consciously going to lay down those goals. Because this year, I do have a resolution: 2006 shall be my year of no excuses. I can only get what I want if I go after it. Thus, I shall study, chase and/or execute those that I am wanting.

Just like any good business person, or war strategist, one must have a plan to achieve those goals — and I have several that have to do with the different aspects of my life:

1. Keep house. There is a certain art and science to keeping house, especially when there is no helper and you have tons of things occupying your time. I have no idea what it entails because unless I spend most of my days cleaning and tidying up, my house remains quite the imperfectly kept home. So this year, I will create a system that will make my house into the clean home I want it to be.

2. Eat good food at home. This means simply learning how to market, plan a menu and cook meals. I’m not talking about full course dinners, but good, hearty and healthy meals that does not take much time to make. Until now I never really have had a well-stocked fridge since I never know what to do with fresh meat and produce; all I have are well-stocked pasta bottles and other items that comes out of a can, box or packet. This situation will definitely have to change.

3. Write. An hour a day for writing. It doesn’t matter what at this point. Later on, I can decide where to take my writing, but I just have to keep on putting words on paper (or word documents) for now.

4. Continue on the path of Corporate Communications and Marketing. Who knew that I could marry a passion for writing with an aptitude for business? Whether I am to stay with my current company, move somewhere else, or strike it out on my own, I will assimilate the tools that I need to make myself reputable in this field. That means actively seeking out media contacts (local, regional and international), referring to books and other resources to further my skills and knowledge in the area, and, of course, staking a claim in the field.

5. Study graphic design. There have been several tutorials and various other tools lying around here that was supposed to help me learn how to work the software needed to create different design projects. This year (and urgently too), I will be studying (at the very least) Flash, Photoshop, After Effects and CSS, and subsequently create a portfolio and start a business.

6. Buy a car. Because it is needed, I shall find a way to get it.

There is a separate list of things I need to do to improve my relationships with the key people in my life, but I’ve yet to really flesh that out (I swear I am finished with having a soap opera-ish kind of life). The aforementioned are simply goals that I have for myself, most of which I’ve been postponing for quite a while. Certainly, my relationships with my family and friends shall not be compromised. But they will also not be my scapegoats on why I cannot do things. Hence, if I shall be doing these with my baby attached to me, then be it.

It’s going to be an amazing year.