Is it just me, or do you also come up with random parenting humour to entertain yourself on those days when you are tired, the kids are tired, and you are “having a moment” (as parenting expert Ross Greene likes to say!)
When I recently had a “broken record” parenting moment – you know what I mean…when you find yourself repeating the same thing over and over to your child…it occurred to me just how much parenting is like being a music DJ.
Once the idea was planted, the analogies started flowing fast and furious! Read on to find my 15 best DJ parenting analogies – and enjoy the GIF humour along the way!
DJ Inspiration
Here was my “broken record moment” a few weeks ago. Does this sound familiar?
Me: “Honey, it’s time to get ready for bed and brush your teeth.”
My son: (Jumping gleefully on his bed.) “I’m not tired Mom.”
Me: “I know you don’t feel tired honey, but it’s bedtime. Do you want to go to the bathroom first or brush your teeth?” (Cleverly thinking a choice will help…)
My son: Trying a new tactic called Change Topic and Distract Mom, “I need some paper. I have to draw something.” (His latest favourite activity.)
Me: (Trying to find a way to work with this…) “Hmmm…there might be time to do a quick drawing as soon as you brush your teeth.”
My son: “Okay.” (He walks to bathroom and picks up his toothbrush and at this point I’m thinking I’ve won the battle of wits for tonight.) Then, “But I’m still hungry Mom!”
Me: “Oh, for the love of God – there isn’t time for a snack – it’s bedtime and time to BRUSH YOUR TEETH!!!!”
And there it is – the classic broken record parenting moment with a grand total of 4 “brush your teeth(s)!”
That’s when I remembered some advice that I learned at a positive parenting workshop for “moments” like these…
After a few deep breaths, I apologized to Onetime for losing my temper and explained how frustrating it was for me when I had to ask him to do things several times in a row.
Luckily for me, that did the trick and Onetime started getting ready for bed.
I find I use this advice a LOT. And it’s surprising how often just pausing, breathing, and then approaching a problem in a new way – seems to help the situation.
DJ Parenting Truths
So what does all this have to do with being a DJ?
Well, that’s where my random sense of humour comes in. After that broken record night – I started listing all the times when I felt like a music DJ and I discovered these 15 DJ parenting truths!
DJ Parenting Truth #1 (AKA The Baby Blues)
Right from the first day they’re born, your kids are re-arranging your favourite playlist.
Advice? It’s best to just accept that life as a DJ will never again be the same as it was before!
DJ Parenting Truth #2 (AKA – the Broken Record)
If you want your toddlers (or teens!) to remember the words to a song, you may need to replay it over and over and over….
Advice? Get the audience to repeat back your songs so you know they heard them.
DJ Parenting Truth #3
Sometimes if your tune is particularly “catchy” (and inappropriate!), it may get replayed at inopportune times to your utter embarrassment!
Advice? Whatever you do – just don’t laugh if this happens or you’ll be hearing this word for weeks!
DJ Parenting Truth #4
Whether you mean them to or not, whatever songs you play often will be stuck in your kids’ memories long after your batteries die.
Advice? Better make sure they’re good “songs!”
DJ Parenting Truth #5
It’s hard to remember sometimes that those earliest songs will always be the most cherished by you and by them.
Advice? Try not to fast-forward them – even if you’re a little sick of playing along!
DJ Parenting Truth #6
If you play music that makes them feel bad – they’ll just begin to tune you out.
Advice? Speak to them with the kind of “music” you’d like to hear!
DJ Parenting Truth #7
If #6 happens often, your kids may eventually avoid listening to your music altogether – preferring to listen to their friends’ music instead.
Advice? Let’s just say you’ve been warned!
DJ Parenting Truth #8
If you’ve got more than one child, you’ll know that some kids need you to “play” more than others, and they all have their own particular musical tastes.
Advice? Do the best you can to make time to play each child the music they like!
DJ Parenting Truth #9
Sometimes the kids scratch your records and push all your buttons at once!
Advice? This is the perfect time for a DJ break! (I find the washroom is often a good spot to lock myself for a few minutes of deep breathing.)
DJ Parenting Truth #10
No matter how bad the day was, you can always rewind and start again with a better song the next day.
Advice? It never hurts to apologize to your child for losing your DJ cool!
DJ Parenting Truth #11
If your music is lively and sweet, the kids will be happy and relaxed. However, if your music is dark and aggressive…. you can draw your own conclusions!
Advice? If you’re feeling angry or sad a lot of the time, seek some help. Reach out to friends and family, find parenting workshops, or even talk to a qualified therapist. Especially if your kids are young, the tone in the house can affect their emotional development and self-regulation for years to come.
DJ Parenting Truth #12
You have to remember to keep paying attention to your own equalizer to keep a sweet-sounding balance between all the sounds in your mix.
Advice? See parenting truth #13.
DJ Parenting Truth #13
If you don’t re-charge your own batteries at the end of the day, there’s no way you’ll be able to play music all day tomorrow.
Advice? Remember to take care of yourself, as well as the kids.
DJ Parenting Truth #14
Trying to force your musical tastes on your kids is likely to start a war that will either end with your child listening to your music – but resenting you, or with them rebelling and listening to music that drives you crazy.
Advice? Expose your kids to lots of different “music” and then support them in their interests.
DJ Parenting Truth #15
If you’re doing a decent job as a DJ parent, pretty soon your kids will start to mix their own amazing music too! Or you never know, they may choose to dance, play instruments, or sing instead!
And that’s okay! It will all be music to your ears!
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Now, I just have to come up with the perfect DJ parent name…DJ Bookish Mom, or DJ Procreator…DJ Positive Mama? I think I’ll have to work on this for a while…
Best,
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All GIFs via GIPHY