New Songs to Sing?



My four year old is in the back seat of the mini-van singing in unison with her three year old brother.  This adorable twosome is singing with such expression and soul that I almost pull over -- so that I can watch them in the rear view mirror and savor this moment.

Awww – Isn’t this sweet?

I shake my head and realize -- No, it is not. Not sweet. Awful.  Absolutely terrible….

It seems that I have had my own “epic fail” (thanks Katy) here on the mini-van sound stage. In my attempt to keep harmony among my four variously aged children, I have ultimately deprived them of quality in their automobile musical exposure and preference.

Sadly, the evidence is in the memorized words of this song being sung . A song that my babies have heard so frequently -- at this point –   has become as familiar to them as "twinkle, twinkle, little star.." .

Much to my dismay, the lyrics of the song they sing involve feeling like "P Diddy" ,  wearing sunglasses and brushing their teeth with a bottle of something that  no three and four year old should ever be caught brushing their teeth with!!! As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure that an adult caught brushing their teeth with "a bottle of Jack" would not be a good thing either ....

Please understand this -- I love music.  I am not musically inclined or talented in any way – although I wish I were. I even appreciate most genres of  music . Music  is  an untouchable beauty of this world.  Music creates (for me) a precious visual slide-show in my head of memories and people from times passed .

I seem to have this old fashioned taste in music that brings me back to days of family road trips and nights when my sister and I would sit on the floor of my grandparents living room -- surrounded by my family -- singing to “Lawrence Welk” re-runs. I loved those times. I miss those warm voices.

Music should mean something..... Lyrical meaning..... Sigh..

Anyways, I have made the decision to remove the stereo from my minivan. Besides, the CD player has not worked since my  2 year old son stuck two pennies in it 5 years ago and I am pretty much all done with having to explain the lyrics of some Katy Perry or  Bruno Mars song  to my daughter… Conversations I wish not to have with my ten year old  – at least not yet.  (Those conversations are for a whole other post!)

Again, as I announce my decision to the carload of misguided music lovers, my oldest searches my face. She has this way of reading my thoughts. She reaches over and pats my arm as if to comfort me-- as I am obviously pained about what I have just realized—and says, “It’s ok Mom. The music we listen to in the mini-van is not so bad. Daddy listens to all kinds of music . You should hear the words to some of the Beastie Boys and Dropkick Murphys songs.”

Great. Well at least the children will have some balance, variety even.

I drop them off at the doors to their schools -- I cringe a little... As I now know they are leaving the minivan with a whole set of skills that they will want to share with their teachers....

~Oh, yeah, AND Lots of new songs to sing....