She Couldn't Be Mine

Haven't I talked about Bug's taste in music? About how I should be totally offended by her sensibilities? I tried searching her site and this one for the post I was so sure I wrote a long time ago, but couldn't find it. The closest I got was here, where I talked about her love for mister mrtl's heavy metal music and the accordion in tejano music.

But haven't I talked about how Bug detests my music? How she'll ask me to turn off Dinah Washington or Dean Martin or anything from the 80's? How, when a song comes on from one of her CDs that she doesn't particularly like, she'll label it as "Mommy's music" with obvious disdain in her voice? Really? I haven't? Well, then, this post has been written in my head for ages now.

While I will say that up until now it has bothered me greatly that she is such a music snob (ha! little mister mrtl indeed), today took me over the edge of offense. We went to the base's excuse for a "Fall Fest" (note the two four-letter words - this thing was beyond foul). Bug thoroughly enjoyed the pony rides, which we did twice because there really wasn't much more going on (hello? what idiot's idea was it to have pumpkin painting in the "preschool carnival tent" with acrylic, staining paint? after encouraging kids to show up -- THE DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN -- in their Halloween costumes??? all the other games involved gooey, thick, choke-inducing candy. ::putting on facetious hat:: yeah - we were all over that).

We finally gave up and went into the main tent, which had some food stands, fake bull riding and blow up bungee games (both too big for Bug), and a band. We had walked quickly through this tent earlier, but the music was soooooo loud that we walked straight through and out the other end. After the second pony ride, which left us with 18 tickets (out of the "22 for $20 - NO REFUNDS" pack we had bought in advance -- yes, that is "sucker" painted on my forehead. why do you ask?), we figured we could buy some drinks and maybe even a hotdog to get rid of our tickets. Besides, the band wasn't playing, so our eardrums were safe.

Right after we sat down with our grub, the band started up again. Playing polka. Yes, I said polka, and the band included an older, heavy, walrus-mustached man wearing leiderhosen (I'm not looking that up) while playing his tube-type instrument. There was even some little kid -- apparently the son of a trumpeter -- dancing around in leiderhosen. It didn't look like Maria was around.

When the music started, you'd have thought the clouds had parted, the sun had shone down, and angels had sung. Bug wanted off her chair. She started dancing, some weird stomp and pumping arms thing that she picked up from watching Dora and Boots sing the "We Did It!" song. She pulled me off my chair to run and stand right in front of the band, which fortunately wasn't as loud as it was before. She spun. Actually it was I who spun, as Bug held my finger and ran around me. She clapped and made the most adorable, giddy, exuberant faces I believe I've ever seen on the child. After a tag-team session with mister mrtl, we were back, sitting on chairs, where she held her fingers together at her mouth, smiling maniacally, screeching and clapping.

And there I was thinking, let's just say if we were to get her a polka CD to play in the car, how much would I bet that she'd appreciate it more than Billie Holliday? There's something just so wrong about that. I'm convinced that the cause of this was me, that I failed to expose Fetus and Baby Bug to enough of my stuff.

Music lessons for Frid will start tomorrow. I will play music all day while Bug is in school, and in the car when (Bug will tolerate it) Bug's not there. (For the last several days, the Bumblebee song has been on constant broken record, so I know I shouldn't even attempt something else, much less "Mommy's music.")

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Update: I was reminded of something today (11/7/05) that I had forgotten to include in this post. This lovely toy, which has brought Bug much happiness for over a year now, plays various kid songs in banjo. She prefers this over my music as well, and will always push Tad ("Hi! I'm Tad, and this is my banjo!") to find "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain." Each time, she dances. It used to be the sumo dance, but now it's the sumo dance with monkey arms (described above).

She makes us dance with her.

Comments

[Bente]

That's pretty darn funny. Good luck with getting Frid on your side!

[amy]

Being a big lova of both Billie H. and Dean M. and Diane Schurr and Mel Torme and Ella and many others, I get your dismay. I have played the stuff UH-LOT around the kids in the hopes of making them my little music clones. And it worked for a while on Sam. Until Green Day came along. If only Deano wore eyeliner and screamed a bit.......

[kalki]

You must include leiderhosen in Bug's Halloween costume...

[jana]

I think at times I might be able to tolerate polka music more than some of the things my daughter listens to...if the band "Jump 5" hasn't made it into your home yet, be very, very grateful.

[LadyBug]

Oooh, that is too funny. Did she do the Chicken Dance? It's standard polka fare.

My daughters have the Hilary Duff CD/soundtrack from the Lizzie McGuire Movie, and it has Dean Martin's "On an Evening in Roma" on it. Now personally, I love Dean Martin; I even have one of his CDs (which also has that song it). But I was in the girls' room the other night when that song came on their CD. When I started singing along, they started laughing and rolling their eyes. It made me feel so....old. And also...lame.

[cat]

Hey! I played! Where's your Motif Monday post, eh?! *snap* *snap* Woman, I am on a SCHEDULE here!

[Von Krankipantzen]

It may be too late for Bug but Frida is still malleable. Clamp those headphones on that belly IMMEDIATELY!

[mrtl]

Bente - It is a goal worthy of achieving.

amy - You give me hope. As long as someone else in the house can tolerate my stuff, we're good to go on road trips. I can't be outnumbered or I'll go insane. (Next thing you know, mister mrtl will have Bug loving Rush. GAH!)

kalki - I'd be lucky to get her in the black cat costume.

The other night we went to a Halloween party. In a last-minute change, I went as a witch who sucks at casting spells, who turned herself into a cat instead of the little girl she was trying to transform. Bug went as a cute little girl in a black sweatsuit. I'm starting to wonder if last year's butterfly costume still fits her.

jana - Never heard of them. Lucky me. I'm suffering enough with the Bumblebee song.

LadyBug - They don't know what's cool.

cat - That's for later. I'm trying to work here. lol (Got something going right now on the computer that may buy me some time to get it written.)

Kranki - As soon as Martha's over, I'm turning on the 80's station.

[yonzie]

Bug, you and my Grandpa's 8-track polka tapes would have gotten along famously.

[mrtl]

yonzie - gah!

[eclectic]

POLKA? God the child is demon-possessed. Schedule an intervention, or something IMMEDIATELY!! Oh, and it's "lederhosen" I believe. Gaaaah!! Whatever you do, do NOT give in to demands for a dirndle.

[Daphne]

This is awesome. Totally wonderful. I'm sure someday she'll listen to jazz and other crooners but at least this way you won't be shocked when she listens to total crap music from age 8 to age 20. or so.

[mrtl]

eclectic - dirndle? What's that?? Whatever, I do like the "Chicken Dance," and "Roll Out the Barrel" will come in handy if we ever get back to Wisconsin for a Brewers' game.
Daphne - It's not a matter of shock. It's repulsion.