This morning Jack came downstairs in his underwear and asked for some clothes. Kitty, upon hearing him request an outfit, said something that sounded like "I want my fish shirt." I said, "FISH shirt?" and she said, "NO! My FISH SHIRT!!!" It went back and forth like this until Kitty got frustrated and burst in to hysterical tears. I was totally befuddled until I thought to ask her what it look like. Once she got calmed down enough to tell me, she said, "It's purple and has hearts and stars on it..." With a light bulb going off over my head I said, "OH! YOUR SWEATSHIRT!" Kitty said smiling, "Yes, my FISH SHIRT!"
Yesterday in the car Jack was telling me about the all-school assembly he had gone to. The topic was the upcoming election. He said, "Mommy, I wish you could have been there... they played the most beautiful song." Since the other tidbits he had told me pointed to the overall theme being an American and what that entails, I said, "Was it the Star Spangled Banner?" He replied with wonder, "YES! That was it!" I started singing it and, as usually happens when I hear it or sing it, I was overcome with goosebumps and warm, tingly feelings about being an American. I explained to Jack what the song was about, the circumstances under which it was written, and the symbolism of our flag still flying. He asked a bunch of questions (as is his way when trying to understand something) and then was thoughtfully silent. Later, at home, he asked to hear the song again. I found a video of Christina Aguilera belting it out at a hockey game. He didn't like that at all whereas I was quite moved. We finally found this recording which he listened to for quite awhile until there was a ruckus and Kitty clicked on another link thus stopping the music.
I credit all of the kids' music appreciation directly to Thom. His passion for all sorts of music is a blessing to us all. Ever since Jack was a small baby, Thom has created mix CD's the likes of which I don't think has ever been seen before. There is classical, kids', pop, jazz and other genres represented along side each other. Yesterday it occurred to me that probably never before in the history of music has some of these songs been played next to each other. As an example the CD currently in our car has this string of songs: 'Walk Like An Egyptian' (by the Bangles), 'Baa Baa Twinkle' (an original composition by Thom), 'Mother Nature's Son' (the Beatles), 'Iv. Tempo Di Gavotta: Allegro' (Corelli), 'Mr. Blue Sky' (ELO), a piece by Poulenc and then 'You Can't Touch This' (MC Hammer.)
My man is an amazing man. I'm so glad to watch his handiwork create music lovers of our children.
Today in the car Jack said, "You know, I might be a Singer when I grow up. I can write beautiful songs... I really can." He then started singing quietly, to himself, a song of his own composition.