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13-year-old dog grooving to his mom's piano playing is bringing pure joy in viral clip

"Bradford's my favorite jazz-lovin' pup!"

Photo Credit: Kara Baldus-Mehrmann

Bradford the dog loves his mom's piano playing.

Meet Bradford. He's only 13 years old, and yet his grasp of music is savant-level distinguished. He is drawn to the most complex piano chords, particularly loving jazz of all kinds. He's extremely close to his family and especially supportive of his mom and her musical talents.

I might have buried the lede here—Bradford is actually a gorgeous, tiny dog.

For years, classically trained jazz singer and pianist Kara Baldus-Mehrmann has been sharing clips of herself playing piano with Bradford on her lap in her home in the St. Louis area. A Westie mix, Bradford listens intently—his eyes closed tight, swaying to the songs when he's particularly moved. Sometimes when he's so deeply into the notes, he bounces along with them and buries his face into Baldus-Mehrmann chest.


Many agree that the duo are the perfect antidote to doom-scrolling. On Instagram alone, Baldus-Mehrmann has over half a million followers who enjoy her thousands of posts.

But just recently, she went extra viral when the pair appeared on ABC News, where anchor Danny New describes Bradford as the "world's greatest 'vibe-ologist.'" Baldus-Mehrmann explains, "He seems to react in real time to certain elements of the music, which is just wild." When asked, "How would you explain the squinting?" Baldus-Mehrmann, while holding Bradford lovingly in her arms, answers, "Oh my gosh. The squinting is when he really just starts to feel the music."

Kara Baldus-Mehrmann and her dog Bradford groove to the music. www.youtube.com, ABC News

She further explains it all began during the 2020 pandemic, when she and her husband were home most of the time. "He would just stay there during my lessons, sit on my lap, and he would sit there for hours and hours." They then cut to a clip (which they mention was the first ever posted) of Bradford resting his tiny head on the piano while Baldus-Mehrmann lightly played. He was so moved by the music, "he couldn't even lift his chin," New gleefully reports.

It's also noted, "For the record, Bradford is not the first to love a good piano nap. I brought you a story back in June about a cat in Croatia named Zlatko, who simply cannot stay awake when his parents start playing."

Cat in Croatia really enjoys the piano. www.youtube.com, WQAD News 8

ABC News also points out that celebrities have begun to take notice of Bradford's grooving. "Five-time Grammy Award winner SZA commenting in all caps, 'I LOVE BRADFORD.'" (Adding to that, Pixar Studios, Questlove, and many other famous accounts have loved and commented on the coolness of this super soulful canine.)

The news report also points out that Bradford still loves running in the park, but on especially anxious days, "like say in a half-hour TV interview…" They leave us hanging, while showing Baldus-Mehrmann ask Bradford if he's doing alright. She then begins to play and he immediately settles into her groove. New leaves us with the knowledge that while "jazz does appear to be Bradford's favorite, he does react well to pop and soothing classical music, as well."

Upworthy had a chance to talk to ,Baldus-Mehrmann, who added some insight into her precious pup's love of music and it would appear Bradford is drawn to some tunes more than others. 'His favorite song is an original one I wrote (called) 'Rebirth.'"

She also shares that in her experience, Bradford is unique. "No other animal has responded to my piano playing the way Bradford has." And his relaxing and grooving isn't just about loving music. It's specific to his proximity to her. "It's only when he's on my lap sitting at a keyboard."

As one might imagine, the comments over the years are incredibly warm and supportive. One writes, "My heart bursts when I watch Bradford. He is such a beautiful soul." Another notices how much love Bradford has for his mom. "My goodness how he looks at you. This is what the world needs — thanks for sharing your beautiful relationship."

The link between dogs and music has been studied in great depth. I can personally attest that my hound dog mutt is especially partial to Americana folk music, particularly when the harmonica kicks in.

In a piece for Mental Floss, staff writer CaLea Johnson shares that yes, dogs do indeed respond to music, writing, "Researchers from the Sydney School of Veterinary Science examined nine studies of the effect of music on dogs in 2020. Their findings, published in the journal Animals, indicated that the classical genre soothed canines, as the pups exhibited calmer behaviors (i.e., lying down, resting, sitting, etc.) while the music played."

There are even playlists meant especially for anxious dogs with separation anxiety. (These don't usually include hard rock or metal, however.)

As for Bradford, whether it's being close to his "person" or just genuinely loving jazz, he's bringing delight to the world in a time where it's much needed. Groove on, little man.


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Man successfully captures the feeling of real, lasting love in poem for his wife

There's a reason people ask to have Harry Baker's "Dust" read at their wedding.

Photo credit: Canva

Love finds beauty and joy in the mundane.

For centuries, perhaps millennia, poets have tried to capture the essence of the most profound human feelings. While success on that front is subjective—a poem that hits one person right in the heart may have little effect on someone else—there are some poets who manage to strike a universal chord on themes that are hard to put into words.

World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker has done that with one of life's most beautiful but underrated experiences—to love and be loved by a partner in the most basic, everyday ways. Nothing fancy. Nothing that requires a massive effort. Just the daily joys and routines that make marriage or a life partnership the comforting, safe place it can be.

@harrybakerpoet

NOW AVAILABLE AS A PRINT ON MY WEBSITE ✨ I wrote this for my wife and so am always thrilled when people tell me they’ve had it or heard it at a wedding - After years of requests I have finally teamed up with @Katie to make it into four different options of stunning print 💙💙🤍🤍 🎥 @Liam Bagnall #poetry #poetrytok #spokenword #lovepoem #wedding

Baker wrote the poem "Dust" for his wife, and it's clear he speaks from experience. "It's not the flowers, it's the weeding in the mud with you," he begins. "It's not the champagne, it's that cuppa in that favorite mug you use."

His poem hits at the heart of what makes genuine, lasting love what it is—not the stereotypical symbols of romance (flowers, champagne, chocolate, fancy food) but the daily work, the shared indulgences, the knowing what makes one another truly happy, and the joy in those everyday realities.

The poem has funny parts throughout, which only makes it more perfect. Humor is such a part of real love that any love poem feels incomplete without it.

love, love poem, harry baker, true love, marriage Love makes us laugh.Photo credit: Canva

But it's seriously profound as well: "It's not the dreaming, it's the waking up with you. I want to be here long enough to gather dust with you."

When he speaks of the "glorious consistency," the "everyday magnificence" and the "spectacular normality" of loving his wife, anyone who has been in a long and happy relationship understands exactly what he means. Fireworks are fine, but it's the slow-burning fire that creates a warm home—a home where we know we are safe and cherished just as we are.

Baker shared that "Dust" is his most requested poem for people to use at weddings, and it's easy to see why. The comment section is filled with people who say they had part or all of it read at their weddings, along with people praising Baker for hitting the nail on the head with his words:

"Why do I always get brought to tears when I hear something that perfectly captures an emotion? Idk, but this made me cry. Couldn’t have said it better."

"I have heard this 1000 times, and I cannot get enough. Tears every single time 🥺 You’re amazing Harry ♥"

love, love poem, harry baker, true love, marriage Love joyfully gathers dust. Photo credit: Canva

"My sister read this for us at our wedding and everyone LOVED it!! It will forever be one of my favourite memories, thank you for your poetry!!!"

"I showed this to my best fiend, and she cried. Now she’s reading it at our wedding next year 🤍 thank you for writing such a beautiful poem."

"All of this. Thirty years of marriage this month and he’s still the best part of my day ❤"

"I have stage 4 cancer and you are saying everything in my heart I want my husband to know before I leave here. 🥰"

"As a widow this hits so hard. 💜"

Baker's "Dust" is truly a gift to those who know and appreciate the simple joys of a solid, lifelong partnership.

You can find the poem in Baker's second book, "Unashamed," and you can find more of his work on his website. You can also follow him on TikTok and Instagram to see more of his spoken word performances.

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Mom accidentally sets timer instead of alarm and has whole family ready for school at 2 a.m.

"That momma is tired. She needs a special day for herself."

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Alarm clock snafu cause mom to accidentally wake the whole family up at 2 a.m. for school.

No one prepares you for how your life will change when you become a parent of school-aged children. I was shocked to suddenly find myself waking up at 6 a.m. for breakfast and getting ready when my oldest started elementary school. At 6 a.m., it's generally still dark outside and for all intents and purposes, it feels like the dead of night.

So it's no wonder one mom had a little snafu with her alarm clock and didn't even notice.

A mom who goes by Tanis on social media reports in a recent video that instead of setting an alarm for 5:50 a.m., she accidentally set a timer for 5 hours and 50 minutes. It's a relatively easy mistake to make if you're using your iPhone for everything, as most of us are.

When the alarm went off, mom rushed into action, waking the kids, rousing her husband, throwing breakfast together, and getting everyone dressed. Parents know that the morning routine often runs on auto-pilot. Your brain is barely on, but your body knows what needs to be done.

It wasn't until the whole family was standing in the kitchen, all ready for the day, that Tanis realized it was 2:30 in the morning.

She and her husband had a good laugh, while the kids look less than thrilled. In the end, she tells them to just go back to bed and "sleep in your clothes."

@tanis___

everyone went back to sleep in their clothes… we woke back up at 6:30 & my kids had trust issues getting to school saying there was still stars in the sky and to make sure it was time 🤣 mom fail. #funny #momfail #schoolthings

The video went massively viral, racking up 20 million views on TikTok. Parents everywhere could relate.

Many saw the hilarious incident as a clear sign that Tanis needs a day off, which checks out. Parenting burnout is running high and moms and dads are juggling way more responsibilities than they can handle. Sometimes, that contributes to little mental errors like this one.

Here are some of the responses to the video:

"Its honestly a big sign she needs a break"

"That woman needs a spa day"

"That momma is tired. She needs a special day for herself"

But the overwhelming sentiment from most viewers was respect and admiration, not only for Tanis' leadership in the household, but the family dynamic as a whole:

@tanis___

Replying to @🌄 top funniest comment. I had to respond, now please let me know which cruise line I should save up for bc I’m definitely gonna continue saving for that. I need recommendations 🫶🏻 thank you everyone! #funnycomments #viralvideo #funny #cruise

"That’s not a fail, that’s elite-level leadership.Your army follows orders without question even at 2:30am."

"Shows you how the whole family relies on mom. You deserve credit mom"

"Hair curled... kids up... husband up... breakfast made... you ARE A ROCKSTARRRR "

"The fact that you guys were laughing and not fighting shows that you are a great family. No crying from the kids, no anger from your husband, honestly I’m jealous"

It's true what they say about families: the best stories and memories usually come from disasters like this one.

Gil Greengross writes for Psychology Today that painful, even tragic moments, often become funny to us over time. One reason is that being able to laugh at a difficult moment helps us cope with the difficult emotions of it. Parenting, in particular, can be extremely difficult on a day-to-day basis so having a strong sense of humor is immensely helpful.

It's also true that the days that go as planned, where the morning routine goes off without a hitch, run together and go by in a blur. When disaster strikes, it becomes something unique and memorable that the whole family can bond over—even if you don't find it funny at the time.

Still, it's awesome that Tanis and her family were such good sports about their rude awakening. Let's hope they all get a much deserved chance to sleep in one day real soon.

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Woman shares 'weird' things her family did growing up. Now everyone wants her parents.

As one commenter wrote, "I thought parents never knew what they were doing but yours DID."

Courtesy of @michel.c.janse/TikTok

Michel Janse had some intentional, fun-loving parents.

There are lots of ways to be a good parent and lots of ways to be a crappy parent, and once you become a parent, you realize that the difference between the two isn't always clear. You might think you're doing something great for your kids, only to have it backfire and realize it was a mistake. Or you might think you're really screwing up the whole thing, but eventually see that you've given your kids exactly what they needed.

Once in a while, though, you see a parenting example that makes you go, "Whoa, now that's how it's done." That's exactly what people are saying about Michel Janse's video, which describes the "weird" things her family did while she was growing up (which she realized halfway through were probably just stellar parenting hacks).

@michel.c.janse

weird things (maybe?) my family did growing up. But now I’m realizing most of these were just parenting hacks

"We had even and odd days for healthy and unhealthy breakfasts," Janse shares. "What does that mean? It means we would get cereal on like the first, third, fifth, seventh, and we'd have to have like eggs and fruit on the second, fourth, sixth…it was my mom's way of being like, 'These are the rules, you can't have sugary cereal every day. You have to have protein today, sorry."

Janse says her parents bought poker chips that they used for screen time currency. Each poker chip represented 10 minutes of screen time (which included computer time or TV time during her childhood), and they received three chips a day. If they wanted to watch a 2-hour movie, they'd have to save their chips up for four days.

chips, parenting hacks, parenting, screen time, gif, clever Card Game Poker GIF Giphy

"We got $12 a week allowance if we did above and beyond chores," she said. "We had mandatory chores, but then there was like weed the whole garden, clean the baseboards, and whatever if we wanted to get our $12." Then they were given three piggy banks, one for giving/generosity, one for savings, and one for play. "As a kid, we got it into our mind that 50% of this we get now, and 40% goes into savings and 10% goes into generosity, whether that's tithing or whatever."

She explained how her parents "gamified" dinner by creating teams (usually her and her mom versus her sister and her dad) and competing to see who could out-theme the other. They would plan out the meal, including going to the store to get the necessary ingredients, and they'd decorate the table according to the theme they had come up with. "It was SO fun," Janse said.

Then she shared how she and her sister had to "recycle" all of their Ziploc bags, bringing them home from their school lunches, washing them out, and reusing them. She said she was embarrassed rinsing out her baggy at school, but now she sees her family as "sustainable kings and queens."

family, parenting, kids, playing games, card games Family playing cardsPhoto credit: Canva

From switching off who got to sit in the front seat by using odd and even days to bringing cards everywhere they go so they can break out a game of Spades at any time, Janse's parents seemed to have a knack for making parenting both fun and effective, which is really the ultimate goal, isn't it?

People in the comments were impressed, especially those who may not have had the most wholesome or healthy upbringing:

"'Weird things that my family does' and it’s the best parenting I’ve ever heard."

"I love whatever is wrong with your parents 😂"

"Ah, so you were RAISED raised."

"Please don’t delete this until i have kids."

"Sorry, but your parents are brilliant. They created healthy boundaries and responsibility."

"Some of y'all fr don't got trauma? I didn't even know that was an option."

"Get your mom a mic and put her on camera, NEOW!"

"I thought parents never knew what they were doing but yours DID."

"This is a very balanced and healthy way to raise kids. Taught y'all responsibility, health competition, financial literacy, empathy, creativity, sustainability, sharing, hard work and reward. They did a great job."

So many people said they were taking notes and asking for more, so Janse did a series of follow-up videos with more memories of how her parents parented and answered people's questions:


@michel.c.janse

Replying to @Caisee here’s some fun cute things they did that shaped me 🥹🥰

It truly is wonderful to see so many practical examples of stellar parenting and how those choices still impact someone as an adult. You can watch more of Janse's follow-up videos about her parents' intentional approach to parenting on her TikTok channel.


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