Thursday, June 7, 2012


"Frog went walking on a summer's day, ahum, ahum-" I sing.
We lie in the dark. A child is curled in either arm as I sing my little ones their goodnight songs.
"No! Baa!"my Sprocket demands. Unfortunately, my audience appear to think I'm taking requests.
"Baa Baa black sheep have you any wool, yes sir-" I switch songs obediently. It doesn't seem to be a big deal.
"Hum!" My Poppet requests shrilly.
"Frog went walking on a summers day, ahum-" I switch.
"Speckled!" My Sprocket orders.
"Five green and speckled frogs sitting on a speckled log eating the most -" I start again.
"Row!" my Poppet demands her song of the day.
"Row row row your boat-"I begin.
"Baa!" The Sprocket interrupts.
"Please," I interject, finally remembering I'm supposed to be teaching them manners.
"Please," my Sprocket repeats, humouring me.
"Baa, baa black sheep -" I sing.
"Hum!" my Poppet yells.
(Repeat X 3)
"Enough! No more frogs, no more hums and no more rowing. It's sleep time now and we're going to have sleepy songs!" I finally explode. I take a deep breath. Breathe out.
"Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, go to sleep now little darlings, Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, go to sleep my little darlings."
They protests and make desperate calls for amphibians and oared vehicles. I cruelly ignore them and stick to lullabyes. And soon, my little ones are sleeping.
I love a dictatorship.
It just works. 

1 comment:

  1. my parents had to sing Oranges and Lemons over and over on all long car journeys when I was a toddler