I think most parents would agree that the best way to keep your child happy is to act like a complete and utter moron most of the time. Whatever you can do to get them to crack a smile, stop crying, or just pay attention to you, you'll do it. Over and over and over again.
And so...singing, dancing, the occasional use of jazz hands...this is what my life has morphed into. Scotty loves to be entertained (hell, he just loves attention) and the more I can do, short of pyrotechnics, to keep the little ham happy, I'm willing.
Quite rightly, my life has turned into an all-day song extravaganza. I enter his room in the morning singing. We sing through lunch. We sing about nap time, going for walks, and tummy time. Some of our songs are well-known ("Lullaby," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,") and some of them are Mom-Scotty originals ("Scott's Dots" and "Gonna Go Walk,") and some are just a mish-mash of songs that I really don't know the words to but attempt to sing anyway ("Somewhere Out There" comes to mind). We sing about toys, food, spoons, birds, other songs, the Cookie Monster, breast pumps, and Dad the Pig Farmer.
Some songs are upbeat, some are soulful ballads, but my favorite is the end-of-the-day showstopper, "It's Bathtime!". This one actually involves a little dancing and some use of lighting. (I carry Scott into the bathroom, dramatically snap on the bathroom lights (Scotty gasps!) and I trill, "It's......BATHTIME!". We sing (and sign) about the joys of bath time ("Wash the head, wash the tummy, down to your toes!") while Scott giggles like a fool and I impart all kinds of motherly wisdom ("It's best to keep your bum clean."))
And of course, there is no better boost to one's self-esteem to think people find you entertaining. And seriously, I really think Scotty would award me an Emmy or at the very least, a Grammy, for my performances. There are a few nights I've walked out of bath time thinking, "Maybe I've got something here..." It's probably not best to allow your six-month old to govern your future career decisions, but I think the kid might be on to something. He has an eye for talent.
And for those of you who know me, this is especially ironic since I am quite possibly the world's worst singer. In high school band, when we had to hum to tune our instruments, I received more than one look from the band director as my 'B' warbled out of tune. In grade school choir, they took advantage of the fact that I knew how to read music and promptly stationed me next to the chimes. Brian has commented that I should try out for 'American Idol' because I would totally make the gag reel portion of the show.
I am starting to wonder, however, if all of this singing is good for Scotty. Just recently, he started making this noise as we would rock to sleep that I can only say sounds like someone is stepping on an accordion. Loudly. With a dead cat under it. He emits this noise over and over again. I had thought maybe he was just breathing out and letting out some tension (loudly), but then it hit me: with our little guy becoming more and more aware of his surroundings (and becoming more verbal), is he trying to...sing along? Is this how I sound to him?
Maybe it's time to go back to musical instruments.
And so...singing, dancing, the occasional use of jazz hands...this is what my life has morphed into. Scotty loves to be entertained (hell, he just loves attention) and the more I can do, short of pyrotechnics, to keep the little ham happy, I'm willing.
Quite rightly, my life has turned into an all-day song extravaganza. I enter his room in the morning singing. We sing through lunch. We sing about nap time, going for walks, and tummy time. Some of our songs are well-known ("Lullaby," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,") and some of them are Mom-Scotty originals ("Scott's Dots" and "Gonna Go Walk,") and some are just a mish-mash of songs that I really don't know the words to but attempt to sing anyway ("Somewhere Out There" comes to mind). We sing about toys, food, spoons, birds, other songs, the Cookie Monster, breast pumps, and Dad the Pig Farmer.
Some songs are upbeat, some are soulful ballads, but my favorite is the end-of-the-day showstopper, "It's Bathtime!". This one actually involves a little dancing and some use of lighting. (I carry Scott into the bathroom, dramatically snap on the bathroom lights (Scotty gasps!) and I trill, "It's......BATHTIME!". We sing (and sign) about the joys of bath time ("Wash the head, wash the tummy, down to your toes!") while Scott giggles like a fool and I impart all kinds of motherly wisdom ("It's best to keep your bum clean."))
And of course, there is no better boost to one's self-esteem to think people find you entertaining. And seriously, I really think Scotty would award me an Emmy or at the very least, a Grammy, for my performances. There are a few nights I've walked out of bath time thinking, "Maybe I've got something here..." It's probably not best to allow your six-month old to govern your future career decisions, but I think the kid might be on to something. He has an eye for talent.
And for those of you who know me, this is especially ironic since I am quite possibly the world's worst singer. In high school band, when we had to hum to tune our instruments, I received more than one look from the band director as my 'B' warbled out of tune. In grade school choir, they took advantage of the fact that I knew how to read music and promptly stationed me next to the chimes. Brian has commented that I should try out for 'American Idol' because I would totally make the gag reel portion of the show.
I am starting to wonder, however, if all of this singing is good for Scotty. Just recently, he started making this noise as we would rock to sleep that I can only say sounds like someone is stepping on an accordion. Loudly. With a dead cat under it. He emits this noise over and over again. I had thought maybe he was just breathing out and letting out some tension (loudly), but then it hit me: with our little guy becoming more and more aware of his surroundings (and becoming more verbal), is he trying to...sing along? Is this how I sound to him?
Maybe it's time to go back to musical instruments.
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