The Ties That Bind and Loosen

"Been a long time since I rock and rolled" -- the real truth is that I've never rock and rolled, and neither have my kids...until now.

Such is the fate of a sister with a brother that likes classic rock, two HIGHLY influental children when it comes to their favorite uncle, and a long car trip.  My musically naive kids moved from Led Zepwhat to Ledheads in the space of 40 minutes.

We listened to that particular track four times while my son played air guitar, my daughter used her head as a drum, my brother laughed gleefuly, and I put my head on the dashboard and kept smacking it over and over.

While I admit that my kids were pretty funny and I loved the family bonding with an uncle that lives over 3,000 miles away, that particular car ride signaled the end of something -- my control over the radio.  Oh sure I let my kids have some say in the music and kid-appropriate CD's they listen to but even then those are CD's carefully selected and screened by me.  This seemingly innocent bit of sharing by my brother was a full on attack of my musical dominance.

It's been two days since that fateful trip and the first thing my son said when we got in the car today was "Led Zeppelin mom!"  I know this is the beginning of the end.   My son is actively seeking out the classic rock station in our town and I've loathed classic rock ever since it came pouring down the stairs from my brother's room over 30 years ago.  Pretty soon we'll have a battle over the radio, just like my brother and I did when we were growing up.  Only this time my kids will be my kids instead of my stinky brother and I'll be forced to give in instead of whapping him on the arm, head, or other random body part.

I guess that's what happens when you share your kids with other people that love them as much as you do...I may have lost control of my radio, but a little piece of my life has come full circle.  Thanks bro.