It has happened with both of my kids. As soon as they started talking I’ve learned what I’ve been doing to annoy them for the first 15 months or so of their life.

With Ben it was Bing Crosby and Kermit the Frog.
I played him a lullaby mix cd at bedtime every single night of his young life.
The first song on the mix was the oh so classic Irish lullaby - “Too-Ra-Loo”
Turns out Ben couldn’t stand it.
I don’t know if it was Bing’s crooning or the fact that it signaled bedtime. But one night after he started talking - that song would come on he would shake his head and say “No No No!” So I’d skip over Bing and he was fine.
Several months later I learned he didn’t like another song on the mix - Kermit singing “The Rainbow Connection” (*GASP!* BLASPHEMY!)
He said something like “No! No! Sad frog log” Apparently I had made him watch the opening scene of “The Muppet Movie” a few too many times.
It is a bittersweet song, but I think Kermit is more wistful than sad, but I see where he’s coming from.
So, no more Bing, no more Kermit.

Well, this past weekend I finally learned how I’ve been annoying Vivian for the first year of her life and then some. This time it involves “the Sound of Music.”
I retired the CD player and Lullaby mix at bedtime and replaced it with the nostalgic music box my mother sent me. I’d rock her to sleep and sing some made up lyrics to the tune of Edelweiss on the music box.
“Vivian, Vivian, You’re so tired and sleep-y….”
So, Saturday night I started singing my song as usual and she shook her head violently and said “No! No! No!”
- taken aback I said
“Don’t you like the song?
“NO!”
“Don’t you like the way I sing?”
“NO!”
More truth comes out.
And I know she’s right - the flattest thing about me is my voice.
Alas, I may curtail my singing - begrudgingly.
Maybe.

What illuminating truths have come out once your kids started talking? Or what truths are you worried might come out once they do?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 8:31 am and is filed under Family Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.