One of the rules that was very quickly established when my husband and I first had children was no kid music in the car.
My husband William is a musician with a decided distaste for any album with children singing nursery rhymes off key. As a result, our kids have never had the luxury of being able to listen to endless loops of Row, Row, Row Your Boat or Baby Beluga while travelling in the minivan. We did listen to the sing-a-long songs at home when the kids were younger and we still belt out nursery rhyme songs when the singing feeling erupts (which is likely far more often than you would think). But the minivan is strictly "real music" only.
This house rule was established purely for selfish reasons. As a northern family, we drive a lot. We have family in other towns and we drive to music festivals and lakes in the summers. In the winter months, we will usually take at least one road trip a year trying to, if not escape the snow, than at least visit different snow in other communities. As such, music in the car is king for keeping the kids - and mom and dad - sane.
I do like to listen to old broadcasts of Vinyl Café when we I can because Stuart McLean's voice is comforting and his stories are funny and sweet. Usually though, my husband and I try to listen to CBC as long as we can before we turn on the CDs (because we are old school) and sing along to whatever is in the vehicle. The favourites for the kids for driving music is Adele, both the 21 and 25 albums, and Mumford and Sons.
During the short drive to school or to my mom's house, the kids fight about which track we listen to and negotiations begin about which song we listen to first and how loud we want the music to be. I typically want the song quieter, so I can hear myself sing, and my kids want the song louder, so they can't hear me sing.
They usually win.
Friends of ours heard about our "No Kid Stuff" in the car rule and were instantly jealous. The had just gotten back from a longish road trip and were bleary-eyed and frazzled from endless Songs for Toddlers. I had suggested that they establish the rule now but, unfortunately, it was too late and the toddler won. I cannot imagine a more unbearable car ride than listening to Baby Shark, Do, Do, Do, Do, Do, Do, one thousand times.
If you are unsure about what this song is, I humble suggest, (don't do it), that you find it on You Tube and have a quick listen. After your ears start bleeding and your child starts singing along with baffling hand motions that accompany the song, then I recommend switching videos to watch James Corden's crooning, lounge version of Baby Shark. At the very least, you will then have something funny to remember when you are still humming along to this oppressive earworm three years later, unable to stop thinking about it.
Or, instead, crank up Adele and unleash your inner diva - sing as loud as you can even if people are giving you funny looks at intersections. Soon the kids will be teenagers and my loud, off-key singing will horrify them even more.
I can't wait.
