Ever since Henry got his ear tubes a few months ago he has been really into music, which is great. I can entertain him with a CD instead of parking him in front of the TV. And he is an enthusiastic dancer. Unfortunately it also means listening to "If You're Happy and You Know It" on repeat in the car everywhere we go. It's only about 57 seconds long so we hear it a lot. But Henry loves it. He claps along and even shouts "hoo-wah" sometimes. Most importantly he no longer screams in the car, which he has done since he was tiny. Well he does scream and violently make the sign for music, but when I start the song he stops.
Recently I was at a get together with a bunch of women, mostly moms, that tended more downtown hipster than my usual mommy crew. I was sharing Henry's latest musical tastes and some of them were a bit horrified. Apparently their three year-olds listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ray LaMontagne. I said I wished I could listen to real music in the car but if I did it would be drowned out by toddler screams. They said I just have to nip the kiddie music in the bud right now. If you allow it at all they will become addicted and want it all the time (as Henry does). So I tried. And he screamed. Is my perceived coolness or personal enjoyment worth Henry's misery?
Is this the hill I want to die on? I think not. I mean, I drive a minivan. I wear pants with a hidden tummy control panel. I am super excited about my new vacuum cleaner. Obviously I am not cool anymore. Not that I was ever that cool to start with. Maybe that's why it's easier for me to accept that it's not about me anymore.
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I have to side with you on this one. Kids are exposed to so much questionable content so early these days. If you can protect them just a little bit longer from the raunchy lyrics of modern pop, so much the better, in my opinion.
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