Why Twinkle When You Can Ave?

Cait Winters shares a small but significant way to blend faith and family life.

Our 9-month-old baby Rose is a dream come true. She was long-awaited, is always healthy, and is always happy. Until she’s not! 

She seems to have grown faster than any of my other three children. Being the youngest in a large family has her eager to keep up! She did everything early, from lifting her head off of my chest at birth, to rolling over at just 4 weeks old, she’s continued on this trend in many ways and her teeth have been no different. She started chewing and drooling at only 3 months old and in short order, started popping teeth two by two! 

I joked with my husband, “It’s because she wants steak!” In many ways, it’s a good thing that she is getting it all out of the way, but the process has been uncomfortable and at times downright painful for our poor little darling.  

None of the usual things worked

This week was another rough one in the tooth department. Those normal aches and pains combined with a running nose from the dry winter air was just too much for her to take. She was crying hysterically and try as I did, I was unable to comfort her in the ways I usually would; rocking, swaying or nursing to sleep. 

Her fussiness due to teething and my new full-time job of keeping her from injury in her newly mobile state has had me more than a little on edge. I suffer with anxiety which makes the already difficult toddler phase a little extra stressful. So to calm her and myself, I hummed a song.  

My soul cried out for a different lullaby

I’ve never thought of myself as a talented singer, but I do like to sing and can carry a tune. All of my children loved a nap time song as infants and I still sing silly songs to them just to see them smile. But this time the song wasn’t only for my baby, it was for me as well. I didn’t pick "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or "Baby Shark" to sing, I chose what my soul cried out: “Ave Maria.” 

I heard some good advice from a Catholic mother in the past: to pray Hail Mary over fussy babies as a sure way to calm them down. I had used this hack more times than I can recall, and it works! Not only because it calms the baby, but it calms the mother as well. Even moms need mothering, and this song was a prayer for Our Blessed Mother’s aid. 

I stood at the cribside with Rose on my shoulder, swaying and humming with my eyes closed tight. As I hummed, I prayed for her future and asked Mary to wrap us in her mantle of love. It wasn’t long before I felt my own tension melt away. Then the baby surrendered, resting limp in my arms. These are little moments that my babies won’t remember, but I will. I’ll tell them how Jesus’ Mother helped to raise them, too.  

It can be tough for busy moms to make time for the spiritual life. If we compartmentalize our responsibilities and spirituality, prayer and praise can be easily lost in the shuffle. But in small moments like this, the simple and sacred combine and this is the most organic and sustainable way to live a Christian life. Blend it together! God can handle our mess, our stress and furthermore, He wants to! He gave us these helpers, this great cloud of witnesses in the saints, Mary being the greatest (Hebrews 12:1). 

As Catholics we don’t need to “wonder” about little stars, because we have something much better: a hope that is always there and ready to encourage us. Why twinkle when you can “Ave”? Next time you have a stressful situation on your hands, try a hymn or spiritual song and let me know if it helps!  

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Cait Winters
Images: Canva