there’s a playlist for that
My husband Brian and I had three children in less than three years. Yes, I know, it was a little nutty. There were times when the tantrums over the wrong colored socks or freak-outs over food that touched on the plate or .. well, fits over absolutely nothing were so overwhelming that the only thing left to do was laugh or cry. Or, in our case, play a pre-arranged playlist.
It was our little wink and nod to each other, a way to gently say “don’t let them get to you, we are already outnumbered.” When one kid slammed a door and another let out a shriek to wake the neighbors, I’d pull out my music app. In the chaos, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones would drift up the stairs. Or if a child was in a battle of wills with us and the winner was as-yet-declared, Brian would turn on “Keep on Pushin” by The Impressions.
This went on in our house for at least ten years until the fateful day that our thirteen-year-old (mid-tirade) recognized the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. The gig was up and we were simultaneously proud at the musical literacy of our kids and a little bummed that the game had come to an end.
But you can play! If you don’t have kids throwing tantrums, is there a jerk you have to deal with at work? You can certainly have a special playlist for the frustrating drive home. How about a playlist for the start of the baseball season, or for when the neighbors are being goofy. Here’s our preschool tantrum list (which has a lot of crossover potential for a Jerks at Work playlist!} to get you started!
Back To Life by Soul II Soul, Caron Wheeler
Beat It by Michael Jackson
Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of by U2
So Cruel by U2
I’ll Take You There by The Staple Singers
Leave Me Alone by Natalie Imbruglia
Respect by Aretha Franklin
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg by The Temptations
I Need A Dollar by Alod Blacc
Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas
Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson
Le Freak by CHIC
Stay by Lisa Loeb
That’s Life by Frank Sinatra
The Breaks by Kurtis Blow
No One Said It Would Be Easy by Cloud Cult
O-o-h Child by The Five Stairsteps
Keep on Pushing by The Impressions
Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
Apologize by OneRepublic
Somebody to Shove by Soul Asylum
Wrecking Ball by Boyce Avenue
Express Yourself by Charles Wright & THe Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Misery by Soul Asylum
I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty
Dancing along with you,
Rachel
