On 80s Music

Nathanael, age 3.
Savannah, age 1 1/2.


Who would've thought they would turn out to love old-school 80s rock?  Much to my husband's delight, even now at 5 and 3, they love to listen and dance to the cleaner songs that we grew up with.  Thankfully, they still don't catch the meanings, whether hidden or not so hidden, behind the songs.  They get this first line or two but what really captivates them both about any music is the melody.  


The rock obsession started with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."  My husband happened to have his iPod on shuffle the other day, and Van Halen's "Jump" came on.  They were immediately in love.  I've heard the song
many times, but never picked up on the first line.


Nathanael did.

"I get up....and nothin' gets me down."

Nathanael: Mom!  This is a great song for the Relay For Life!"

Mom:  Why, buddy?

Nathanael:  Well, because "I get up and nothing gets me down" means people with cancer shouldn't let cancer get them down.  They can get up and fight!

Savannah:  Like Gran.

Nathanael:  I hope she doesn't let it get her down.

Mom:  You know, of all the times I've heard this song, Natty, I've never paid attention to that lyric.  I think you're right.  I think that's a great message for the Relay.  Do you know what the next line is?


Nathanael: No, not really.

Mom:  It's "You got it tough, I've seen the toughest around."  That kind of reminds me of Gran, like something she or anyone else fighting cancer could say.  Should say.  Your Gran is one tough cookie.


Nathanael:  I know she is.  I'm proud of her.

Savannah:  Me too!

Mom  I'm proud of her, too.  She's the bravest of them all.  She's roaring her mighty roar (*we just finished reading Where The Wild Things Are*) at that nasty wild thing called cancer, and we just have to keep hoping that we can help her and anyone else who may be fighting cancer to feel like they can get up and not let their sickness win in terms of getting their spirits down.  

Hey, cancer - "I ain't the worst that you've seen."  My kids are coming after you.

Don't Stop Believin', brought to you by Excedrin Migraine

I kid, I kid.


A little.


There are many things my beautiful children do well for ages 5 and 3.


I say this with my heart full of mother's love, but....singing isn't one of them.  


Both kids, particularly Nathanael, have been singing the refrain to Journey's Don't Stop Believin' this past week.  It has become our unofficial theme song around here.  The kids don't understand the lyrics, obviously, although Nathanael thinks it's cool that the guy singing the song took a train at midnight.  They hear the words "don't stop believin'," though, and their thoughts go immediately to Gran.  They refuse to do anything but be filled with hope and won't stop believin' that their fundraising efforts will help change the world, even Gran's world.


Nathanael asked me a few days ago if he and Savannah could have a "dance party" to Don't Stop Believin' to put on the blog so that they could remind our readers to "never give up hope."  How could I resist such a request?


Simon Cowell would not approve.  It's loud.  It's shrill.  But their intent is obvious, and the unexpected message at the very end comes from their mouths, their hearts, and is filled with inspiration that, in my opinion, is infectious..

Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs

Mom here.  We spent a long Easter weekend out of town with my parents, sisters, and their families.  It was a very tough, very emotional weekend.  The kids had a blast playing with their cousins from the other side of the country (also fellow Cave Crashers), but it was very bittersweet.

The kids' new favorite song from the last few weeks has been Journey's Don't Stop Believin', particularly the end, because they don't want anyone to stop believing in hope, to stop believing in the fight, to stop believing that Gran will get better.

It's spring break time around here for the schools, and, as homeschoolers, we tend to follow the public school schedule as far as days off are concerned.  Today, though, I wanted to get some reading, writing, and spelling in.

Mom:  Okay, kiddos.  Time for some work.  

Nathanael:  I'm drawing something.  Please please please can we wait until I'm done?

Savannah:  I'm ready.  Let's do it.

Mom:  Let's go, Natty.  Let's get it out of the way and then you can have your play time.

Savannah:  Yeah, let's go....Natty Bananers.  (She knows what buttons to push.  She's only 3.)

Nathanael: Do NOT call me that, Savvy-anna!  (So does he.)

Mom, losing patience:  I'm going to count to three....

Savannah: I can count higher than that.

Nathanael: I'm done anyway.  See what I drew?  It's a cancer crusher to help get rid of Gran's germs!

Mom, feeling like dirt now:  Wow, bud.  What a great drawing.  And what a great idea.  A cancer crusher.  

Nathanael:  Wouldn't it be great if we could just push a button, next to everyone with this sickness, and it just blasted the germs right out of their bodies!  When I'm 49 I'm going to invent one.

Savannah: Just like Mama!

Mom, seriously rubbing temples now: Savannah, I'm 35.  Not 49.

Savannah: April Fool!

Mom:  Ha ha.  Right.  Okay.  Let's get some work done.

Finally.  They humored me and completed their work, and when we were done I asked them if they wanted to stay at the table to draw and keep me company while I started dinner.   They both said yes, drew for a few minutes, started whispering, and then told me not to look. After maybe 20 minutes they wanted to show off their work.  Whenever the tell me not to look and then they want to show me something I get a little nervous.  This is what they were working on:     

Big bro instructed Little Sis on how to find the song on my iPod 

to make sure he spelled "believin'" the right way.

She loves her Gran, whom she used to call "Lady."  She wanted her picture taken wearing the purple flower brooch Gran gave her over Easter weekend.

This little one never ceases to amaze me.

Never ever.  

The two of them worked together on this one, but Savannah didn't want to be in the picture.  She wanted it written and asked Nathanael to write it.  She actually wanted "Cancer stinks like the cat's litter box" written, but Nathanael apparently vetoed that idea.

I know I'm biased, but I have pretty great kids.  Mom, if you're reading this, thank you for teaching me everything you did that helped me produce two amazing kids.  I love you.