The Gilmore Effect

I should have blogged about this a long time ago.  I’ve mentioned it but never really devoted enough space to it.  It’s a phenomenon that occurs regularly in our household.  I like to call it the Gilmore Effect.  Now, many people know that I kind of like (read: am irrationally in love with) the tv show Gilmore Girls.  I watched it every week for the seven years it was on, and, I admit, I cried just a little bit during the last episode.  I introduced my college roommate to the wonder that is Stars Hollow (hi, Becky!).  I can quote far too many of Rory and Lorelai’s best sayings.

And I’m already setting my daughter on the same path.

I used to watch GG every day, often twice a day, when it came on ABC Family.  When she was in my tummy, she heard the show.  When she came out and was too young to know what a tv was, she heard it in the background.  As she started to grow up and become aware of her surroundings, she would always notice when the theme song for the show came on, and, inevitably, it would make her happy.  In the midst of playing, crying, or eating, no matter where she was, she’d look toward the tv and smile when she heard the familiar, “If you’re out on the road….”

Well, here we are at 15 months old.  The child still loves the song, even though I don’t watch the show every day any more.  (First of all, I try not to watch too much tv during the day- second, ABC Family finally showed the final season of the show for the first time this year, and when I watched that last episode, I felt some kind of closure, and suddenly didn’t feel like I needed to see the Gilmores every day.  But I’m still a Stars Hollow-ite at heart, and I still go back and watch an episode every now and then.)  Just today, my toddler was fussing to be held while I made myself some breakfast, and that song came on.  She ran out of the kitchen to stand in front of the tv and sing and dance.  When it was over, the fussing immediately recommenced.  I hit “back” on the remote (just 6 times takes you right back to the beginning of the song!), and the smile returned, she danced, and all was right with the world.

I really need to get that show opening on a DVD so I can play it on demand.  The Gilmore Effect is definitely a positive one.