You know when you, your friends or perhaps your children say something that just has to have a song lyric attached? Who, for example, hasn’t shouted ‘STOP’…then followed it up with ‘in the name of love’ or the slightly more bouncy ‘right now, thank you very much…’!?
Well, since having a child (now a 2 year old) my husband and I do this A LOT. This means that our parenting soundtrack is currently a heady mix of nursery rhymes, Bob the Builder/Little Red Tractor/Timmy Time and completely random snatches of random songs.
After going to a friend’s house and hearing her use the exact fragment of a song line that we do during an outfit change, I realised that we weren’t alone in this habit. In fact, I concluded that it was a universal trait. Probably.
Um…isn’t it??
Baby: crying (mostly only on changing table)
Parents sing: ‘Don’t cry for me (insert full name of baby here)…the truth is I never left yooouu!…’
Continue until crying stops or you wear yourself out with the effort of repeating the only two verses you know
Title song from Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Baby/Toddler: just woken up
Parents: ‘Go-ood Morning, Good Morning you slept/didn’t sleep (delete as applicable) the whole night through! Good Morning, Good Morning to yooouu!’
Good Morning – Singin’ in the Rain
Baby: staring intently into my eyes
I sing: ‘What do you seeeee? When you are looking at meee…da da dee dummmm dum de daa daa daa daa, da-da deee dummmm….DA’
Doll On a Music Box – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Toddler: waiting to get their top taken off
Cool Me: ‘Put your arms in the air…like you just don’t care’
Sooo many to choose from, what an overused lyric this is! I’m going for in the style of Word Up by Cameo
Toddler: wanting to get down from high chair
Me (it’s like a disease, I can’t help it): ‘Hop down…Summer in the City, back of my neck getting dirty pretty…’
Summer in the City – Lovin’ Spoonful
Toddler: pretending to do buildering ‘my have a hammer…’
Parents sing: ‘…I’d hammer in the morning, hammer in the evening. All over the laa-aa-aa-aand’
If I Had a Hammer – Peter, Paul & Mary
Toddler: Looking out of the window and pointing… ‘people!…’
I croon: ‘…who need people…’
People – Funny Girl (think Barbara Streisand)
Toddler: Ascending stairs ‘my coming up…’
My personal favourite…ready!?
Parents belt out: ‘I want the world to know, you got to let it show!’
I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
Toddler: Finished dinner and wants to get down ‘walk out door…’
Parents in full power-ballad mode: ‘…just turn around, ‘cause you’re not welcome anymore (whisper that bit)…I’ve got all my life to live, I’ve got all my love to give, I will survive, I will SURVIIIVVVVE!’ Uhhhoooohhhhhhohoohaahaahooohooo….
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Toddler: wants to rid himself of an object ‘take it’. Sounds like ‘tek’-it…’
I rap (oh yes): ‘…to the bridge’
Sexyback – Justin Timberlake (feat. Timbaland…and yes I’m Timbaland)
And finally:
Nephew: Needs a post-meal babywipe ‘clean me up’
Mad Aunt: ‘Buttercup, don’t break my heart! Ba dum dum dum!’
The Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup
Ahh the fun we I have. I think we’ve been blessed with a toddler that clearly realises our need for entertainment and so indulges us in phrases that lend themselves so perfectly to musical interludes. I do sometimes see his little face screwed up in thought though…as if he’s somehow trying to commit the moment to memory and ensure we never volunteer to supervise his school discos. It’s very similar to the face I see when he watches us dancing too…
I’d love to think I’m not alone in this…what’s on your parenting soundtrack!?
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Yes to this! EXCELLENT idea!
We have loads… Unlike yours, I usually start mine as well as finish them. Pure self indulgence, as in this nonsensical little beauty:
“Stella, Stella, have you any wool? Reply (sung by me on her behalf. She can thank me later) No mummy, no mummy, I’m a baby”
I might have to write my own post on this subject – goldmine!
x a
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Haaa! Oh do! And since reading your comment, I’m now thinking of all the possibilities for Stella. Such a fun game! Sooo glad I’m not the only one. I had a hunch you’d be in on this too! X
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Haha love this!! we do it too… usually something to the effect of “Bath, Bath baby..dun dun dun dun dun dun dun” … i’m not very musical even in typing but thats supposed to be ice ice baby :p Thanks for sharing #MarvMondays
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Perfect! I’ve just told my husband your one, and he’s a bit jealous. Who doesn’t love a bit of vanilla ice at bath time!
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This is a brilliant post. And it’s so true. Everyone who has children or even small children in there family is guilty of doing this. I particularly like the Justin Timberlake lyric! #marvmondays
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Me too! And it sometimes comes with an oh-so-embarrasing attempted body pop! I think you are completely right and I really like the thought that families all over the place are singing away.
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Haha, this is awesome – I will definitely be singing like this to my kid when he comes along…although my singing voice may scar him for life! 😉
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I’m going for (with mine) that he’ll know what bad singing sounds like so he’ll be really pleased and appreciative when good singing comes his way!
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Thanks for the smiles on this beautiful Monday morning.
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What a lovely thing to say, you’re welcome.
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Haha, I love this – going to have so many of these songs buzzing around my head now.
Always singing “Put your arms in the air like you just don’t care” to my toddler because she never wants to put on/take off her clothes when I want her to!
#MarvMondays
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Yes, some of them come from desperate attempts to encourage action…singing feels better than shouting!
Enjoy the songs in your head, thank you for commenting!
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I started reading this and thought, ‘I don’t do that.’ Then I got to the one about putting their arms up and realised I often sing, ‘Hands up, Baby, hands up. Give me your heart. Gimme, gimme your heart.’ I’m sure there are probably others, actually.
#MarvMonday
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Oh that’s a fantastic one!! Yes, well I didn’t know I did it really, not super-consciously, until the other week when I caught myself and realised the extent of both the repertoire and back catalogue! Thank you for popping by.
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This really tickled me! Especially the Summer in the City one- genius!
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I do enjoy that one very much. Glad you enjoyed the read!
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Brilliant!!! My repertoire is currently limited to baby songs and nursery rhymes – I must branch out!! They do find my radio 2 style dancing very amusing though!!!
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Ahh, yes the dancing! Such a fun thing to do with babies and children. I don’t know about you but I’m sure I used to be really good at dancing, well really good at deluding myself that I was really good anyway which I’m sure is almost the same thing! Thank you for commenting x
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Haha I love this, I definitely do the crying one and just woken up! My daughter’s only 11 months but I’m sure the soundtrack will just get bigger and bigger as she gets older and starts to talk! #MarvMondays
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Oh definitely! When all the language comes the singing gets even more fun. Ahh enjoy it! And thanks for commenting x
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Ha I love this, the justin timberlake one is my favourite. I sing all the time, having a little girl called Clementine I can’t help it.x #marvmondays
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Ah that’s fab! And you’ve given me an idea…if I ever have a second child I should name them from a song. Maybe Blondie’s Maria or Mickey as in ‘hey Mickey, you’re son fine’!? Ooo the possibilities. In all seriousness though, Clementine is a beautiful name. Thanks for commenting x
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Stop, for me is always followed by Hammer time!
Putting a vest on my eldest when she was a newborn was a tedious experience. She hated putting her arms up for it. Bizarrely it became acceptable if I sang ‘Hands up baby, hands up. Gimme your heart, gimme gimme….’ alongside such ‘torture’.
Do you have that stuck in your head now? Sorry…
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Haha! I’ll just add it to the list of songs stuck in my head. It’s a right old party in there.
Yes, of course – Stop. Hammer Time! I always get tempted to do a funny little body action when I sing that though so best not…
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Haha, love this! My fave is ‘Put your hands up for Detroit’ when I’m undressing the little one. Thanks so much for linking up to Marvellous Mondays, would love to see you again this week! (: #MarvMondays
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I love this city! Haha, great choice! Thanks for hosting #marvmondays
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Oh my god I do this all the time! Often changing the lyrics.
My fave at the moment i/’s “boobie boobie boobie” to the tune of ABBA “money money money” when it’s feeding time. 😆
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Love it! And I’d like to think you do it at feeding time at home AND when out and about!
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Of course! So much so that T now gets excited when I sing it because he knows what’s coming. Oops!
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I do the “Good Morning one” it sets the day off on a cheerful note (well for me anyway). The one I always used with my daughter at bedtime was Dream a Little Dream of me by the Carpenters. My boys are in a phase of telling me to stop singing whenever I sing to them : ( hopefully it is a phase!
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Yes, it definitely starts things off cheerily doesn’t it!? Oh I hope it’s a phase too. I’m sure it is…and it’s one I’m anticipating coming up with my boy too!
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Great list! I also have have a range of songs that run through my head all day like a soundtrack. I never though to compile them all before – that could be a fun exercise. The one I hear most often at the moment is ‘It’s a disaster’ (OK Go): works for any bodily fluid accidents, and any number of other messes that happen on a daily basis 🙂 #coolmumclub
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Ah yes, I can definitely see that working! Oh go on, make a list…you know you want to! Thanks for popping by and commenting x
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I love it! And yes we do this too, we went on holiday with some friends who have a little one too recently and the whole thing was very musical. Although the tunes weren’t quite as good as yours.. we had recently started ‘tiny talk’ classes and our soundtrack mainly consisted of bizarre tunes such as the ‘here we are together’ welcome song! Lovely post 🙂 #coolmumclub
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Ah how sweet! And much more child friendly! I love the idea of you all on holiday somewhere merrily singing away to the bemusement of others around you! Thanks for commenting x
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ha this is brilliant! I have often found myself singing to keep sane through crying, ‘hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re looking kind of down to me’ (phats & small) #coolmumclub
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YES! I am so adding phats and small to my repertoire, starting tomorrow! That’s a great one! Thanks for commenting x
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Bahaha – this is hilarious. This is actually my life, to the point where we even sing some of the same songs in the same situations. #coolmumclub
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Excellent! I’m so very glad I’m not alone in this!! Love that you’ve got some of the same…great minds…!
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Brilliant! I don’t think I know enough songs to do this, though! In any case, song singing is strictly only allowed at the instruction of The Toddler here! She puts a swift stop to any random outbursts of song along these lines! #coolmumclub
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Oh I bet you do, you just may not know it! Shhh, I don’t know what I’d do if my toddler stopped me singing (he has tried the odd time…to no avail), I don’t want him getting any ideas…
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Love this – you should release a Now that’s what I call parenting! haha. Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub x
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It would a classic I’m quite sure! Thanks for hosting #coolmumclub
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This is brilliant and I can definitely relate to this! Don’t Cry For Me (insert name) is one that I do quite often. My song for getting the children dressed/undressed is “hands up, baby hands up” by Ottowan and we also sing the “Let it be me” song from “Let’s Play” when changing nappies (“let it be wee, let it be wee…” Glad it’s not just me that has a parenting soundtrack – I’m forever making up alternative lyrics to songs to fit whatever it is that I’m doing at the time 🙂 #coolmumclub
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Really love this, in fact I think ‘let it be wee’ is now my new favourite. What happens to the lyrics when it’s not wee though!? I was sure I wasn’t alone in this song lyric thing…I’m glad I wasn’t wrong! thanks for commenting x
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Love this! I do it a lot! mainly consists of mickey mouse, goofy goober then something from fall out boy or a nursery rhyme.. helps with the failing sanity 😀
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Oh so true, well helps fuel it for me anyway!! Nice mix of songs! x
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I need to apply this! It would be perfect distraction now dressing and changing my son is like wrestling an octopus. Thanks
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Oh my, I know that feeling. Yes, it distracts you if not the octopus. Thank you for popping by!
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Haha I do this all the time! For everything not just parenting! There’s a song for every occasion! 🙂 #bestandworst
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True! And glad to hear it!
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Loving this. Sounds like you would fit in beautifully in our household. We are always singing ridiculous songs to our little girl and finding never ending stupid parallels with songs or other stuff #bestandworst
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Once it starts it’s unstoppable isn’t it!? I love that there are households up and down the land doing silly singing to their unsuspecting children. Thank you for commenting x
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This is really funny. I totally do this with other adults, I love their reactions, but NEVER thought to do it with kiddos/babies, but yeah I think it would chill me out as a parent. LOVE IT! #bestandworst
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Brilliant, doing it to other adults is where it starts! I find they’ve got to be particular other adults…although I have a wonderful image in my head of you opening the door to the retreating postie: ‘hey, hey wait a minute Mr Postman…!’ Thanks for your comment!
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This game is fun! Possibilities are endless. My whole life is a soundtrack….Luckily, my kids are getting older and singing everywhere, too….
“STOP!!” …if you love me…ohhhhhhh, you better stop! (Sam Brown)
We have to scream STOP a lot in this house….
#bestandworst
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Ah brilliant! A life in song sounds great! Ha, yes our STOPs are getting higher in frequency as my boy gets older… thank you for the expansion of my Stop repertoire! x
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These are fantastic. I think singing should be encouraged at every possibility. Obviously my brain has gone blank as I try to think of any but I use to burst into song regulalry when my boys were young (and still do to be honest). #Bestandworst
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Me too! I love singing my way through life! Thank you for commenting xx
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Haha, amazing, I have sooo many that I could use! Great post and thanks for linking up to the #bestandworst hope to see you again! x
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brilliant. Singing keeps us sane and makes everything more fun. Great blog 🙂
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Singing definitely keeps us sane, even if we sound a bit insane doing it! Thanks for commenting x
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This is a definite #pantsaward contender! One of mine is Stop! Collaborate and listen, Mummy’s back with a brand new mission, she’s gonna squeeze you tightly…and so forth. I love making up stupid songs as well. The boy is decidedly unappreciative of my talents however….! #chucklemums
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That is brilliant! I do like down expanding my repertoire so thank you! Since first writing this and now I’ve noticed my, previously unappreciative, son making up songs or putting in new lyrics to the tunes he knows…it’s very funny. Clearly catching! Thanks for hosting #chucklemums
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So glad I’m not the only one who does this. Like all day. Many of the same ones too.
Christmas tunes were the best. Screamy baby to the tune of santa baby still pops into my head from time to time. Thanks for linking lovely #chucklemums
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Ah Christmas! Yes I’d forgotten the opportunities that brought about. I used to walk around trying to get my son to nap when he was younger to the tune of walking in a winter wonderland!
It has definitely been reassuring to see there’s a whole, dare I say it, girl group of haphazard singers of parenting related tunes…
Thank you for hosting #chucklemums
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Made me giggle me and the hubbie do most of these. One of our fave’s is ‘Baby got Back’!
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Oh good, glad you do too! Baby got back is a great one, I’m adding it to my repertoire!
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Gloria gaynor I will survive is one I MUST add to my list of songs that are NOT from cbeebies and stuck in my head!! great post! #chucklemums
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Oh now CBeebies songs…there’s a whole other post right there!
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I love this! We pretty much chose our sons name so I could nickname him Tommy Mack to sing to the tune of Jimmy Mack! I love singing him songs like ‘take good care of my baby..’ And ‘you are my sunshine ‘ haha! He likes it when I sing/rap Notorious B.I.G ‘Big Poppa’, maybe he remembers that I played it a lot when he was in the womb?!
Other than that I think mine are really cringe… Like ‘you are a stinky boy’ to ‘the cheeky song’ and the like. I need to start singing some cool songs to the poor boy. Except I can’t sing. How early do you think they start covering their ears when they hear terrible singing?
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