DEAR ABBY: The letter in your column about the importance of parents singing to their children prompts my letter. It reminded me so much of my little girl who loved to sing, but could never carry a tune in a bucket. She is now the mother of three boys, and she's still singing.
Each night she would listen to their prayers and then she would always sing a lullaby to them. One night, I heard her 6-year-old say, "Mommy, you have the most beautiful voice in the world." Now doesn't that melt your heart?
Again, I quote the verse from your column:
"Richer than I you will never be
"For I had a mother who SANG to me."
One of my special memories is of my father rocking me and singing to me at bedtime in front of our kitchen stove, as I watched the colored gas flames dance in the oven. And that was almost 70 years ago!
Please do not sign my name. We never told our daughter that she couldn't carry a tune. I don't want to spoil her happiness at this stage of her life. -- SENTIMENTAL IN THE EASTERN U.S.A.
DEAR SENTIMENTAL: Thank you for sharing your special memories. Each one brought a smile -- and I know they will touch many hearts today. I can think of no more beautiful and reassuring sound to a child than that of a mother's lullaby.