A joyful noise

Ah, the classic songs of childhood. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” The Star Wars theme song.

I first noticed Daniel singing a few weeks ago. We were on the back deck, and I heard a tune that sounded suspiciously like “Twinkle, Twinkle.” It went something like “Tee tul, tee tul, teetle TAR, ow ie under ta too ARE!”

Music has always been important to my family. Some of my favorite memories of childhood are riding in the backseat of our old Trooper, belting out John Denver tunes. We sing. It’s what we do.

That was a family of all girls, though. I get the feeling that guys aren’t encouraged to sing like girls are. While Daniel gets to play most any way he wants in our house, whether it’s throwing a ball, digging in the dirt, singing or carrying one of Mommy’s purses around, I worry that peer pressure will kill budding talent one day.

So, for now I sing with him, to him and around him. I love singing with Daniel because it feels like a whole new form of communication, one that means more than the daily grind of requests and replies and admonitions. There’s a tune, and we’re singing the same thing together. I can see that Daniel thinks it’s special, too.

We’ll finish a “Twinkle, Twinkle,” and he’ll say “again,” and we’ll sing again until he’s tired of it.

About that Star Wars theme, since the husband and I are both sci-fi geeks, we’ve passed the fan flag to our offspring. The first time we put in a Star Wars film and John Williams’ iconic notes flowed by with those yellow words floating off into space, I sang along for Daniel.

Now, Daniel asks for Star Wars movies, saying “Tar Wahs, doo DOO doo-doo-doo DOO doo!”

As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Contact Shannon Carey at shannon@ShopperNewsNow.com.