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Friday, September 18, 2009

We were having a bad day

You know the type. The kids are bugging each other, and every little thing they do seems to end in a verbal smackdown. We were in the car when I reached boiling point, and so I did what I always do, which is clearly ineffective, but I'm apparently powerless to change. I lectured them.

KathyB!: Wah, waah, wah, wah, wah, waaaah... I don't know why I even bother. I swear, it's like I'm talking to myself.

The kids made the appropriate contrite faces and then lapsed into silence. I briefly contemplated pulling over and running screaming into the woods, but abandoned that idea when I realized we were a good 5 miles from home. Instead, I flipped on the radio hoping to divert the seemingly inevitable return to bickerdom. I succeeded in distracting myself but apparently it didn't work for the kids because soon there was giggling in the back, and it wasn't the happy kind. It was the mischievous kind. And yes, there is a difference.

Visions of potty talk and inappropriate humor danced through my head, and I felt my irritation roar back like a freight train as I demanded to know what was going on back there.

KathyB!: Now what? Honestly, you guys don't start. It hasn't even been 5 minutes.

(more giggling except this time it's on the verge of hysterical)

KathyB!: What already?

Hannah: Promise you won't get mad?

KathyB!: (Silence)

Hannah: It's the song.

(now they're laughing like hyenas and I'm looking confused. It's Billy Idol for cryin' out loud, not Weird Al Yankovic)

Hannah: (suddenly breaks loudly into the chorus of the song)

Oh, oh talking to myself
Oh, oh talking to myself
Well, there's nothing lose,
And there's nothing to prove
And I'm talking to myself

We were listening to Dancing with Myself. They didn't get any of the other words but they were clear on changing the dancing to talking.

Seriously. It's like I was trapped in a tin can my minivan with The Three Stooges.

I rolled my eyes.

And then I laughed. Maybe I should make that my theme song?

Here's a little Billy Idol video refresher if you don't remember the song

55 comments:

Stephanie Faris said...

Sometimes you just have to laugh!

TKW said...

Billy Idol? Awesome! Your girls are too clever!

Susan Berlien said...

Oh! I know those days all to well. I agree there id a difference in happy and mischevious laughter. Oh you said it so well!

Crazee Juls said...

...wow, we started off our day w/ a lecture from mom a.k.a. me too...and why is it when I start lecturing my kids get this glazed over look on their face?? Someone's gotta rethink this tactic---

That song, and your kids--priceless... They are some funny girls.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. No one was laughing at Billy Idol back in the day... ;)

Jane said...

What an amazing sense of humor your kids have! They definitely take after their wonderful mom! (And thanks for the flashback!)

Grand Pooba said...

Hahaha! I love your girls!

The Good Cook said...

Wow. You listen to rockin' radio! Now about those kids.....

Michele said...

Wow, I haven't seen a Billy Idol video since 1989! Can't believe I used to think he was so hot...

Can't believe he is still on the radio, either. We'd never be able to hear him on any of our stations around here.

Kristina P. said...

Wow, I never would have made that connection! Your girls are geniuses.

buffalodick said...

Well "Rock My Cradle Of Love!"

Unknown said...

Timing is everything... lol. And I have said 'I feel like I'm talking to myself a gajillion times.'

Luckily not when that song was playing :) lol

~Thought's By Dena~/ JDs Gift Shack said...

Its great when they have you on the verge of wanting to pound them and then they give you a reason to laugh...little stinkers

MadMad said...

Oh, that's hysterical! And you gotta love kids with a sense of humor. (Even when sometimes it makes ya wanna kill 'em.)

Kathy B! said...

The Good Cook and Michelle:

You just need to find the oldies stations :) He plays on there quite a bit!

bernthis said...

i remember that song like it was yesterday, too bad it was popular 20 years ago

LadyFi said...

Very funny. Great to hear they have a good sense of humour...

Lindy said...

You can't just be pulling over on the side of the road and leavin your girls behind - that gets you probation nowadays.

And, ahem, what the hell is he wearing?!

mCat said...

Your girls have a great sense of humor. It will serve them and you well in the future!

Anonymous said...

Please, stay out of the woods. You'd starve. At least they have a sense of humor. You've raised them well!

ymK said...

Which station are you listening to, girl? I don't get these songs around here. And your girls are hilarious!

Stacy Uncorked said...

Oh, that is just way too funny...now I'm going to be singing that song (hopefully in my head) replacing 'dancing' with 'talking'... ;) Your girls are way too brilliant! ;)

JennyMac said...

HAHA...your kids are sassy and bright. Perfect addition to your family.

msprimadonna67 said...

I think it's hilarious to hear what my kids think the words to songs are. The things they come up with!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Billy Idol! I needed that.
And those girls of yours, they're too bright for their own good.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Billy Idol! I needed that.
And those girls of yours, they're too bright for their own good.

Anonymous said...

Kids are something else! I think sometimes I'm going to lose what little sanity I have left.

Hope you enjoy a great weekend.

-FringeGirl

ScoMan said...

Now really, changing the words of a classic song.. that's just inappropriate.

If I ever (god forbid) have kids, I think you'll have to give me lessons on determining regular laughter from mischievous laughter. Seems like something every parent should know.

Tina said...

Oh, that's funny. I hate days like that, (and they come around way too often!) but leave it to a kid (or three) to immediately find the humor in it!

passions and soapboxes said...

very funny. I love billy Idol. Guess what! I am posting this comment from our Wii, cool huh!

Unknown said...

You WERE having a bad day. ; ) That would've totally cracked me up too! Glad you were able to get a laugh out of it. Kids!!

Anonymous said...

haha it is hilarious when you get so mad at them and then they say something and you just have to laugh. oh it happens all the time!!

DebraE64 said...

Oh Mylanta! I've been here three years longer than you, and I have NO idea where the oldie stations are! You're going to have to share this info. This just cracks me up, makes me want to find my big permed 80's hair, too much eye liner, and spandex! Okay, I'll, at least, leave the spandex. Spandex and leg/butt cellulite doesn't mix, or so I've heard. ;-) Everybody have fun tonight....everybody wang chung tonight! LOL!

theUngourmet said...

Billy Idol Rocks! Always has and always will! :D

Sultan said...

At least Billy was wholesome!

mommakin said...

I love it when my kids are clever (Ok, smart-asses) and I want to reprimand but I laugh anyway. My friends say this is how they know the girls are mine. I think yours just might be yours...

The Rambler said...

I thought I was the only one that wanted to run screaming into the woods? :)

And yes...dancing/talking to myself...is classic.

Funny.

The Rambler said...

I kept the song on while I parused some blogs :)

Pseudo said...

Kids can be a lot of fun. And I really enjoyed listening to Billy this morning.

Jen said...

your kids are awesome.

~Laura said...

Love the running into the woods line! I find that on days like that, when they're on a roll, they're on a roll. The bad behavior seems to turn into slap happy behavior. You have to join in or simply go crazy!

Kathy said...

What is it about kids and cars? Within thirty seconds of getting in the car, my kids who might have been getting along well for hours, will be practically at each other's throats. Is it the close quarters; do they feel trapped? We all know how a cornered animal behaves....
By the way Billy Idol is THE MAN! I'll be singing that song for the rest of the day now. Memories.....

Anonymous said...

Lol!

That radio works great for drowning out the bickering!

Claudya Martinez said...

Billy! You should do a cover of the song.

KatBouska said...

Well at least you were able to lighten their bickering moods a bit! I guess I'd rather my kids laugh together AT me, then fight at each other. Too funny!

Unknown said...

Look at their great imaginations : ) LOVE IT! I don't remember this song. Does that mean I am younger than you? Or does it just mean I came from a very sheltered home and my parents didn't let me listen to this singer : ) Let's hope it is number one!

Nanny Goats In Panties said...

You've got the makings of a very funny sitcom right in your own van!

ck said...

I'm *still* singing this song...

Thanks, KB!

Charlotte said...

That song never gets old! They do give themselves away with "that" kind of giggling.

forever folding laundry said...

Your daughters crack me up. :) Seriously! I don't "know" your husband like I "know" you, but I'd say the apple definitely doesn't fall far from the (mommy) tree. So fun.

~Keri

Lorie Shewbridge said...

OK, now I'll have that song in my head all day... But your daughter's version, which in my opinion is SO much better. They have a great sense of humor. It sounds like something my boys would do.

heidi said...

LOL That was BRILLIANT!!! LOL

Janie Woods said...

Amazing how quickly we turn into our mothers, isn't it? I always get on the boys for repeating themselves, then I find myself yelling, "Boys, boys, boys" like my own little chant over and over again, getting louder with each one. If I had pompoms, I could get into a rythym with it and it could be the family cheer.

Queenie Jeannie said...

LOL! Bella is already acting up and she's only FIVE!!!

Hit 40 said...

I used to love Billy Idol. So Cute! The king of the '80s for me.