Will is 3 and is dutifully learning all of things that will help support his development into a full-blown kid. Part of this process is learning songs, something that is fun, but also has a dark side.
In the beginning of learning a song, Will remembers various pieces. So when he sings it, it is as if each phrase is on a small card, with Will singing the phrase as he randomly selects one of the cards. No cards ever leave the deck, so the same card can be drawn and repeated over and over again. It goes sort of like this:
“My poor MEATball….ran into a BUSH…out of the door…my poor MEATball…poor little MEATBALL…ran into a BUSH…fell on the floor…my poor meatBALL…on some spisghetti…my meatball…somebody sneezed.”
This is the cute part. This is when we grow incredible quiet, turning down all other noises to secretly listen. It’s the stuff parenting dreams are made of.
And then there are the other songs. Our current winner of “most annoying thing my son does” goes like this:
“Trick-or-treat, smell my feet…” (and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat…)
Yes, THAT annoying thing. Ugh. If he knew anymore of it — especially if he knew it had something to do with underwear — I think it would be the only thing he’d ever say. The current mode of operation is to ignore it and redirect him to something else. I don’t want him to think that the phrase has any power over me — although in truth, it’s repetition is like kryptonite, slowly eating away at my Supermom powers. I’ll hang in there. It will wear off eventually… right?
Chris S. | 02-May-07 at 8:08 pm | Permalink
Oh no! What manner of songs are we teaching this child! I demand, as a citizen, that you immediately begin him on a program of Stereolab lyrics. Repeat after me (salute and cadence are optional):
“A military regime
in democratic disguise
that lies in all impunity
takes apart what it took
people years to build
public institutions
that promised a decent life
self-determination should be fact
not essentially a right”
Emmy | 02-May-07 at 8:11 pm | Permalink
Ha! I’m laughing out loud, with the knowledge that *I* have taught both these songs to Will. The annoying “Trick or Treat” song totally back-fired on me, so believe me, the bad kharma is in the works: When I first sang the first verse (which is as far as we got), the entire gaggle of preschoolers began chasing me around the yard trying to sniff my shoes! In fact, they (Nicco, Miles) regularly scream “Smell Emmy’s Feet!” and the hot pursuit begins!
We sang “On top of Spaghetti” again today as the kids “put in their dukes” ala Eeny-Meany-Mine-y-Moe Style (another ritual of childhood I feel obligated to pass on) before any game of tag. But the real objective we ALL realize is the play Eeny-Meany, which I do with a variety of songs. Sometimes I call over ‘only the superheroes/lizards/fairies’ and we sing the song and ‘catch a superhero/lizard/fairy by the toe.’ Completely mezmerized, they are, by this “natural selection” and the concept of “having dukes” to put in.
Will is completely entertaining, isn’t he? I’m still waiting to see him perform that jig. What’s it called again?
Holly | 02-May-07 at 8:11 pm | Permalink
Hey, I earn my $140k. Will is quite the musical kid. He knows several musical numbers, including songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, My Fair Lady, and Oklahoma.
And, of course, he does a great rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” I’ve been wanting to put that on up on YouTube… it’s a real gem.
Holly | 02-May-07 at 8:16 pm | Permalink
Ah… Will’s performance piece is “Me Ole Bamboo” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
I found the original on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bQgXccbxHbM
Or search on “me ole bamboo” on the main page. Will’s version pays great homage to Dick Van Dyke.