I never thought it would happen to me. And if it did, I never thought it would happen at such a young age. I saw a few warning signs, but ignored them. I thought if I pretended that it wasn't happening, it wouldn't be true.
But denial has not helped. It's time to admit it.
I embarrass my children.
And, since they're only four and 19 months, this bodes ill for the teenage years.
So what brought on this moment of self-realization?
I love to sing. I have no delusions that my voice is in any way, shape or form good. But what I lack in expertise, I make up for in enthusiasm and creativity. Chad still grins when he talks about the time I sang "Let Me Entertain You" from Gypsy, at a local karaoke bar, stripping off my little jacket and tossing it out to him during the musical interlude.
Enthusiasm.
Which is why, last weekend, with Love Train running through my mind, I belted out, "People all over the house! Wash hands. Join the lunch train, lunch train yah yah."
Creativity.
And, apparently, utterly embarrassing for the preschool crowd.
Joseph covered his ears with his hands and yelled, "Nooooo! Stop singing, Mama!!"
Elizabeth, ever the little mimic, followed suit, yelling, "Nonononononononono!"
"What?"
"Mama, you have to stop singing. You don't sound good."
"But I love to sing."
"But I don't like to hear you sing."
"Well, we have a problem here. Singing makes me happy and is also one of my more quirky and endearing habits. Your father loves it." I turned to Chad, whispering sotto voce, "Nod your head."
"I. Don't. Like. It." Joseph pouted.
"Sorry about that, but I'm not going to stop. You should just join in. It'll be easier."
Disgruntled, Joseph went back to his organic, free-range, homemade chicken nuggest and pile of fresh, organic carrots.
Fine. He went back to his mac and cheese. I can't get anything past you, can I?
Later, Chad assured me that it was just a kid thing. "We hated when our mom sang," he assured me.
"My mom sang all the time and we loved it."
"They must get it from my side."
"I really should have done a bit of genetic research before marrying you."
I'm not going to let it stop me, though. I'll keep singing in the rain and the car and the house and the kitchen and the grocery store and the dressing room and the office. And, when we're having Sunday breakfast, I'll more than likely still belt out...
Pour some syrup on these! Wait, that's enough!
47 comments:
Keep on belting out those tunes! Believe me, they will get used to it. My family has adjusted to my whistling. Well....let's just say that they tolerate it.
My mom used to sing "Good Morning, Good Morning, It's great to be awake!" very loudly in the morning to get us up. We moaned, screamed, and told her to stop. I still carry those great memories with me. They may not like it now but they will look back at it and smile every time.
No, this just means that you are incredibly awesome, just like me. Your kids simply haven't developed enough sophistication to appreciate what they've got.
I sing all over the place, about everything, like missing shoes and making pie and why we shouldn't drink soap. My husband says it's like living with Mary Poppins.
I get the SAME reaction. But I enjoy embarrassing my kids. It's fun. And it's our right as parents. Sing on, I say!
HA! Love your rendition of Def Leopard at the end!
My son told me to stop when he saw me sucking in a huge breath to sing, "You've got a friend in me." Whatever.
LOL I love your creative, uh, reworking of the lyrics! ;) I do this all the time! I shudder for my children, I really do.
I agree with Cheryl..this is our God-given right for the (sometimes) hell they put us through!
That should be on a banner. With stars. For sure it's going to become a response as he screams for me to stop. :)
I do whole songs. *sigh* I should have been a lyricist.
I wasn't sure people were going to get that. My husband certainly practices his eye rolls when I sing it.
Rock on, lady!
And sing I shall! Through screams of no and covered ears, through buried heads and yells...
Okay. I'll stop my anthem.
LOL
I wish I had something witty to say to this but I'm dying at the thought of you giving your husband a teaspoon of medicine while singing. lol
I'll remind Joseph of that. In about twenty years. ;)
Thanks for stoppy by, James! I hope you and your girls are doing great.
Tolerate, adjust...same thing. ;)
Omg. I almost stopped reading at "free-range homemade chicken nuggets." You scared me! Glad to hear I can still call you my friend. xo
You strip-teased your jacket at a karaoke bar?
Mothercussing SWOON.
That is all.
I won't even talk about the belly dancing.
Good Lord woman! I'm on twitter too much to make homemade nuggets.
Ha! Loved it.
I was grinning away reading this. I do so love a good read and grin.
Ha! My kids have been telling me to stop singing since they could SPEAK.
Now you need to come over to my linky post from TRDC and crank the music. ;) (you'll see what I mean...)
This is hilarious and what I love about you. Your personality shines through everything you write. Always makes me what to head out on a girls night with you. Although you can do all the singing, I'm not much of a public singer but I can do a mean "itsy-bitsy spider."
so funny imagine what they will say when they are 14 and 11 and you start singing as you pick them up from school i bet you could get them to clean their rooms the first time you asked them if you promised them not to sing..keep singing this could work to your advantage in the future lol
I get that all the time from my tween daughter. Especially in the car or the mall. "Mom, stop singing! I may know people here!"
Love this post! Especially where you tried to pull a fast one on us about the organic chicken nuggets. I'm always belting in the kitchen, the car...
I can't wait to embarrass my son! :)
Haha! Too funny! You sing on girl! I too love singing and probably will always be that way. Stopping by from Red Writing Hood.
SIng on, lady. My mom used to do this - she has a lovely voice and I bet you do too. But I remember her doing it in grocery stores and I hated it. But now I see what kind of a person it makes her and I love it!
Oh, I love this and can so relate! Hmm- perhaps a bit too much?! Keep singing, Mama! One day they'll love it!
So just how bad is your voice anyway?? ;) Try to get it out of your system in the shower. And then embarrass them anyway.
I love that you are embarrassing them at such a young age! Keep on singing, mama! ;)
If I start now, I might perfect embarassing them by the time they're teens. lol
I think I sound fabulous!
THEY beg to differ.
Or they'll commit me to a home. :)
Thanks for reading!
Lovely? Eh. But it's not like scalded cats either.
I LOVE that your mom sings in grocery stores. Does she do it loudly? Or quietly under her breath?
When I'm singing, I'm not getting frustrated or upset or ready for a glass of wine. I like that.
It's the best. Especially when they cover their ears and hide their faces.
I have to many friends who'd call me out if I didn't fess up!
That's too, too funny. And let me guess...she might know people everywhere. lol
Hmmm...I never thought to use it as leverage.
I like it.
Oh hon! We'd have the most ridiculous girls night out - complete with a duet of "itsy bitsy spider".
It will happen. At some point there will be a bloggy thing that we both go to. And the whole city will shut down their open mics.
You and I? Same wavelength. LOVED your post.
How funny! Me too. Nothing better than a little grin and chuckle. :D
Ummm I am loving your Def Leopard remake. I would buy your kids friendly CD! Haha! Keep embarrassing them, it build character.....haha!
giggling at the truth in this post :) relating!
Sing on! That's what it's all about. Great post.
Of course you're cool! Sing loud and proud, sister :).
The coolest people are those who have the confidence to not care, right? If it makes you feel better, my 20 month old vehemently shakes her head while saying "nononononono" if I even start humming!
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