Conversations with a Five-Year-Old: Episode 8 – “Treasure/Super Powers”

Today is Miles's SIXTH birthday, and this is the SEASON FINALE of the show (since, you know, he...isn't a five-year-old anymore). The conversation takes some dramatic turns this week. Treasure hunts! Super powers! Secret identities! And an original song so versatile you could play it during an intense search, when dispersing an unruly mob, while … Continue reading Conversations with a Five-Year-Old: Episode 8 – “Treasure/Super Powers” →

Year 5, Day 323

"You're gonna like this one," he said. "It's called 'Daddy is My Best Buddy and He Hangs with Me Every Day'."

Year 5, Day 283

While we were getting ready for bed tonight (or, as I like to call it, "avoiding brushing his teeth"), Miles decided to quiz me on some music. "Who sings this?" He started, "Happiness is magic..." "Hmm," I said. I knew the song, but couldn't quite place it. "I'm not sure." "You know!" Miles said, as … Continue reading Year 5, Day 283 →

Year 5, Day 278

Speaking of traditions, here's an annual December event that millions of people enjoy. Not me, for reasons that will become obvious, but I'm sure everyone else absolutely loves taking the yearly stroll down auditory memory lane that is "Spotify Wrapped." There are probably a ton of insights to be found in these retrospectives -- confirmation … Continue reading Year 5, Day 278 →

Year 5, Day 253: Baby’s First Live Show!

Over the course of my years in Charlotte, I've had the pleasure of enjoying some outstanding shows at Ovens Auditorium. Sufjan Stevens. Rent. John Cleese and Eric Idle. John Prine, for God's sake. Well today, we took Miles to that same venue for his first live show ever, and Lord help me, it was PAW … Continue reading Year 5, Day 253: Baby’s First Live Show! →

Year 5, Day 245: Name That Song 5!

As we were driving to get dinner, Miles requested some music. "You know that song 'I Want a Mom'?" "Uhhhh..." I'll admit, I was already sweating. I did NOT know the song he was talking about, and he has very little patience when asked to repeat or explain himself further. Negative patience, in fact. But … Continue reading Year 5, Day 245: Name That Song 5! →

Year 5, Day 191

When I was about Miles's age, I had a tape recorder that, aside from listening to actual cassettes on, I would regularly record music from my record player (mostly Disney and Chipmunks stuff) and, from time to time, sing into myself. Most of the songs I'd perform were TV themes, like Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, … Continue reading Year 5, Day 191 →

Year 5, Day 185

Like most children, Miles has always exhibited an interest in music, and we've tried our best to lean into this as much as possible in the event he wants to pursue this far enough to learn how to play an instrument, from playing a wide variety of styles for him to enrolling him in regular … Continue reading Year 5, Day 185 →

Year 5, Day 180

This morning, as is part of our usual routine, Miles demanded to listen to "his music" on the way to school. However, unlike our usual routine, he became very agitated when a particular song came on. While listening to our typical mix of PAW Patrol/PJ Masks/Mickey/etc. music, Miles exhibited what can generously be called "revulsion" … Continue reading Year 5, Day 180 →

Year 5, Day 153

On the way to swim class tonight, Miles requested to hear the Darkwing Duck theme song, which I didn't really know he was even aware of, let alone that he knew most of the words to it. I found the latter out as he merrily sang along. At the end, I clapped. "That was good!" … Continue reading Year 5, Day 153 →