Out of the Closet and Into the Romper Room

I have a confession to make. Yesterday, while the kids went swimming at the neighbors (thank you Marjorie!), and I cleaned the bathrooms, I listened to a kids CD. For the Kids Too! to be exact. Normally, when I have the house to myself, I put on Liz Phair, Radiohead, Pixies, or some other CD that isn't necessarily appropriate for little ears. I have been feeling a little anxious lately about an upcoming life change (more on that to come, but rest assured it won't change the size of our family), and I thought kids music might be just the thing to calm me down and lift me up. It worked! I actually replayed the disc several times (my bathrooms were very dirty). When the kids got home, accompanied by several friends, I put on another kids CD, and we all had a very nice, calm, happy afternoon.

Children's music has played an important role in our journey as parents. While pregnant with Avery, George and I fell in love with Israel Kamakawiwo-ole's rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World (do you remember that commercial that made you want to buy your new baby developmental toys?). His CD was the first of many in our music collection for young listeners. Listening to the song again, I wonder, what kind of world would it be if more people listened to songs about rainbows? I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

While many popular songs for adults deal with loving the wrong person at the wrong time, rejection, betrayal, consumption, loss, hopelessness, anger, fear, jealousy and even rehab (although I do love Amy Whitehouse's little diddy), most songs for children encourage love, friendship, sharing, taking care of the earth, accepting differences, eating healthy, dreaming, imagining, having fun and being silly. What if, instead of bumping and grinding, we all did the hokey poky and turned ourselves about? Rather than singing about what's wrong, we sang about some of our favorite things? Why not wonder why there are so many songs about rainbows, and what is on the other side?

If happy, little bluebirds fly

beyond the rainbow,

Why, oh why, can't I?

Pop in a kids CD, load your iPod with your children's favorite tunes, watch Connie on YouTube and let your spirit soar.