Jazz for Kids

We have a little trouble around here on school mornings. It’s called, All Heck Is Breaking Loose and Mommy’s Rocking Alone In The Corner. Because, getting my two kids ready to go out the door gives me a case of heartburn hot enough to toast the bread and cook the bacon. Who needs kitchen appliances?

I’ve come up with a few solutions. One involves requiring Milo and Belle to get dressed and come downstairs for breakfast before engaging in any other shenanigans, like TV watching or game playing. That helps.

But still, the house buzzes with palpable tension. To counteract this, I’ve begun spinning some Jazz as soon as I get up. You know, good, old-fashioned jazz like Etta Jones and Billie Holiday. It has a remarkably calming effect.

Despite how my jazz soothes everyone’s frazzled nerves, Milo and Belle would still prefer we play kid tunes. Kid tunes, though? Not generally restful.

I think, however, that I’ve found the perfect happy medium. A little CD called Jazz for Kids. It’s a sweet anthology of uplifting and smooth tunes, including Old MacDonald, sung by Ella Fitzgerald and Yes, We Have No Bananas by Louis Prima.

My favorite song on the CD is the adorable Potato Chips, sung by Slim Gaillard and His Baker’s Dozen. It’s catchy and fun, without being at all raucous.

Of course, I’m also kind of hoping that my love of jazz will rub off on Milo and Belle, and the greats who sing these songs are a nice introduction to the genre.

We’ll be playing Jazz for Kids again and again and, hopefully, it’ll help me keep it together at least until Milo and Belle are safely in their respective classrooms. After which I’ll return to my corner and listen to Potato Chips a few dozen more times.