Forever Family

Happy Monday!!  Isn’t it great to be back to the weekly routine??  The holidays tend to throw such a wrench in that.  As fun as the holidays are, it is kinda nice to be back to normal.  Except for the traffic.  I soooooo enjoyed my commute time cut in half as most of the working force took the past 2 weeks off.  Today they were all back on the road with a vengeance.  I was almost hit no less than 4 times on my way home tonight.  Whew!!!

For a variety of reasons I won’t bore you with, my son’s daycare is about half way between our house and my work downtown.  It’s about 23 miles one way.  On average, including drop off/pick up time, it takes me an hour each way.  That gives me about 30 minutes in the car with my son.  We try to have some fun during this part of the drive after I pick him up, but sometimes he’s just tired and cranky and there is nothing you can do about it.

I’ve had to get a little creative thinking of new ways to keep him entertained, and to keep my sanity.  There is nothing worse than a long hard day, a frustrating commute, and a very cranky toddler in the back rocket seat whining and fussing.  One of my more successful tactics is music.

Music is VERY important in my house.  I’m a little obsessed with it, and even tinker with piano playing every now and then (time…it’s always about finding the time).  I like almost every genre, except for country.  Well, I like classic country, like Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson.  Not that new Garth Brooks crap.  Never fear, Hubby is a country fan, so even that genre is covered when it comes time to play a tune.  I have spent disgusting amounts of money on iTunes, and my iPod is probably my most precious possession.  I believe there is a tune for every mood and every occasion, and it’s important to me to impart my love and appreciation of music to my son.  

This has become especially true since my son started at his daycare this past summer.  For some reason, they feel the need to play this horrid, high pitched, tinky toy piano music that makes my ears bleed.  It’s like that Baby Einstein annoying kazoo music.  I suppose there is some study out there that says a small child’s brain development is some how sped up with this pathetic excuse for melody.  I refuse to believe that is true.  In fact, if I ever win the lottery, I am going to put forward a large sum to start a study of my own to prove that this type of dink-dink music is nothing more than Disney trying to brainwash our kids.  Not only is this music on constantly at my son’s school, but they feel the need to keep the volume cranked at small roar.  It’s terrifying.

I have taken it upon myself to educate my son on real music, with real emotion and feeling.  I’m happy to report that my counter-attack against the Disney machine seems to be working.  I sing to him A LOT, so even when the iPod isn’t playing, I can fill his head with quality stuff and force out the mush.

Our repertoire varies.  I have a variety of playlists set up just for him, from bedtime mix (lots of Vivaldi and Mozart), to smooth hits for mellowing out (kiddo LOVES big band music), to wake-up music (more classical, but Classical and Romantic era composers like Beethoven, Chopin, and Listz), to playtime music.  We range from Gregorian Chant, to Baroque, to modern hits in almost all of our lists.  We have instrumentals, a cappellas, symphonies, quartets, piano solos, metal guitar riffs, and even a little rap music.  Our drive home is time for playtime music.  These are fun songs he and I can both enjoy.

You can’t even imagine how tickled I was when he started singing along.  I think it’s just the cutest thing that he knows lyrics, and he even makes requests.  I feel like this is one of the first big things where we have really connected, just between him and me.  He says “spider, Mommy,” and I know he wants to sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider.  Only I can pick up the tune when he starts to sing London Bridges.  Music has been a major part of my life as long as I can remember, and Hubby has a more casual relationship with it.  I sometimes feel like it’s just Kiddo’s and my secret code, and I love it!

So I thought I would post our own personal playlist, just like celebrities do on iTunes.  These are our playtime hits, and what we enjoy singing along to on our way home each day.

1.) Real Gone, by Sheryl Crow, from the Cars soundtrack (Kiddo’s favorite movie)

2.) Our Town, by James Taylor, from the Cars soundtrack (see above)

3.) Life is a Highway, by Rascal Flats, from the Cars soundtrack (see above, not my fav version, but he likes it)

4.) Jump in the Line, by Harry Belafonte (as Kiddo would say, this is “shake a booty” music)

5.) Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), by Harry Belafonte (great for sing alongs)

6.)  Lullaby in Ragtime, by John C. Reilly (this is on our bedtime mix, but he LOVES this song.  We slow it down a bit and sing along.  It’s a very good song, and if you’ve seen Chicago, you know the guy has some pipes.  He’s got real talent, and I can’t understand why he keeps throwing his career away with Will Ferrell movies)

7.)  Wee Wee, Pee Pee, Tinkle, by the Wonder Pets (yes I know.  I said no goofy kids music.  But we’re potty training, and my son thinks this song is silly.  It’s also fun to sing “Wee Weeeeeeee, Pee Peeeeeeeee, TINKLE!”)

8.) Ninja Rap, by Vanilla Ice (Old school kid friendly rap, from the live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie)

9.)  Peanut Butter Jelly Time, by Chip-Man and the Buckwheat Boyz (what kid doesn’t love this song)

10.) I’m My Own Grandpa, by Willie Nelson (I dare you to listen to this song and not smile)

11.) I Like to Move It, by will.i.am (from the Madagascar movie.  We like this version cause it’s a little more mellow with a reggae sound.  Other versions are too dance club for us)

Those are our favorites for our ride home.  We have a variety of others, mostly old school classic hits like Yakkety Yak, Wooly Bully, Surfin’ Bird, Splish Splash, The Bunny Hop, etc.  But those I listed above are the ones that really make my son smile.  Even on his grumpiest days, a little Wee Wee, Pee Pee or some Real Gone will guarantee me at least a little grin.

I just downloaded some Van Morrison.  I bet he likes this song.  He surprised me today.  He liked Madeleine Peyroux, even though it was in French, so he’s got an open mind and up for anything!

Just remember, music tames even the most savage toddler….er…beast.  

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