And on That Note...

Singing songs to the boys, after putting them to bed each night, is a treasured part of our bedtime routine.  Even after eleven years, my oldest son still comes in to listen while we sing. 

We have a very large repertoire which includes songs from my own childhood.  There are certain standards we sing every night and towards the end the boys are allowed to choose.  Occasionally, I will make up silly verses to familiar tunes.  This practice, though highly popular, is reserved for special circumstances as it tends to incite an uproar.  Once in a while they will throw me a curve ball by asking for a song that only my wife knows and vice versa.

On this particular evening, it was Logan and I, alone.

"What song should I sing next?" I asked him.

"How aboooooout Big Monster Snake?" he said.

How calming.  This benign little ditty must be a song that Ashley knows.

"I don't know that one.  Can you sing it for me?" I asked.

There was a great deal of fidgeting accompanied by some humming as he struggled to get a handle on the tune (and the covers).  Suddenly, he burst out with,

"Fire Tic Tacs and vege-ta-bles.  Big mon-ster snake...whoa, whoa, whoa."

I was caught completely off guard and failed to stifle my laughter.  Undeterred, he repeated the verse, determined for me to catch on and finish the song.  After breaking the news that I was completely unfamiliar with this charming composition, we decided to bring song time to an end.  I tucked him in and kissed him good night.  As I left the room, I couldn't help but wonder, "what have we done to this child?"

- 5 November 2011