Sweet Harmony

I have figured out something I love about having a dvd player in the car and it's not what you'd think--the absence of noise or fighting--though the silence that accompanies wireless headphones does give the illusion of being absolutely alone in the car. As nice as that is, it's something different I love. It's those moments when someone bursts out of the silence laughing or mimicking some phrase in the movie--moments that sound completely out of place in an otherwise quiet car and make you realize your kids are totally and obliviously in their own world. Moments like tonight when we were on our way home.

It was late, it was dark, Fisher had fallen asleep and the kids were watching Aladdin. I was enjoying the drive listening to a normal radio station instead of the High School Musical 2 soundtrack for once, when I started to hear a small voice from the back of the car. The voice grew louder and I realized it was Maddie singing to 'A Whole New World'. Now normally, she has a great little voice and isn't tone deaf at all. But somehow the song sounded a little...off. Okay, really off, in a really funny way. Whether she couldn't hear herself and therefore couldn't sing on key I'm not sure, but I turned down my music to listen, masking my laughter so the singing wouldn't stop, when another little voice chimed in--this time Connor's. Again, not a tone deaf child, but the song he was singing didn't quite match the one Maddie was singing. (?) He probably couldn't hear himself either and they obviously couldn't hear each other. The randomness of their harmony was only made funnier by the fact that Connor insists on singing "the boy parts" of every song lately and since he doesn't have a low enough boy voice to match the song, he ends up sounding monotone instead. You know the way you feel when you hear someone tone deaf sing? They seem so innocent which makes you feel kind of sorry for them but also proud of them for not being too sheepish to sing out anyway? It's endearing and embarrassing at the same time and this is what I felt for these two kids at this moment. So Maddie's singing a whole new song at the top of her lungs while Connor is singing not words, just low "ooh's" for some reason, they are both totally oblivious, and my eyes are filling with tears from laughing. They held out the last dissonant note together (apart) and complete silence immediately returned. I think Brayden missed the whole thing. I chuckled the rest of the way home, wishing Rick had been in the car to laugh with me, and felt sweet affection for both of them. What a great way to end the day.