Music

Music is such a personal thing. Musical taste is like snowflakes -- no two are ever the same. I am very curious about my son's musical interests as he is only 4 years old. He is unencumbered by peer pressure in this arena. His reaction to music is 100% pure -- simply his visceral response to the song.

I always resisted the Raffi CDs for kids when he was younger. Somehow, it just seemed wrong to push these simple songs onto my kid. He should be allowed to choose what he likes on his own, and he has. Early on, he really got into piano solos. They calmed him when nothing else would in those first few months. Once introduced to the jumper, he selected more latin numbers and was nicknamed "Salsa Baby" as he would jump and swing, rocking out to "Bomboleo" by the Gypsy Kings.

Yesterday he chose a song that I was really surprised by. I put on a CD in the car and he vetoed every single song on it. It was a mix that I had put together that ran the gamut... Snow Patrol to Avril Lavigne, but nothing fit. I went through another CD and then another. I was a little aggravated as I tried to focus on the road and the CD player at the same time. What kept me going was a curiousity... what was he going to settle on? The answer: "Under Pressure" by David Bowie and Queen. After the first few beats, he announced "Turn it up, Mommy" and we settled into a the beat together, me interspersing my own "ba da dee da doh" with Freddie Mercury's.
I have no idea why that particular song resonated with him, but I must admit, I admire his taste.

I'll take Queen over Raffi any day.

When?

Derek has had some struggles with preschool this year, especially with making friends. Lately, I have begun to wonder:
When does this job get easier?
When do I stop worrying?
When do I stop holding my breath as I watch my child walk into a new situation?
When do I stop wanting to push anyone out of the way who doesn't treat him like the amazing person I know he is?
How can I protect him from all the hurts in the world?
I know that someday he will have his heart broken by a friend, a girl, someone that he trusts. I know everyone learns how it feels not to be picked for a team. I know that everyone gets betrayed. I can handle that for me. How do I learn to accept that someday he will have to endure this pain himself?
I want to protect my baby from all of it.
It's a tough learning curve, motherhood.
Just when you think it's getting easier a new challenge comes along.
Maybe if we all thought of every person as a child like our own we would treat them better... the world could be a better place...