I know what this may look like, but exactly WHY shouldn’t my son be allowed to sing at the dinner table?

My mom and dad did their best to ensure that we followed very strict rules at the dinner table. No chewing with your mouth open, no elbows on the dinner table, and you must excuse yourself from the dinner table. (I’m sure there were many more, I’m just already so bored with listing them I’m not going to bore you either.) Is anyone else but me ready to adopt some new rules for dinner table etiquette?

Just the other day Corbyn and I were enjoying a lovely fast food meal at one of our favorite quick dinner spots, Dairy Queen. (BLIZZARD! SHYEA!)  He was singing a family favorite at meal time called The Rice and Butter song. It goes a little something like this, “Rice and butter, Rice and butter, and my milk, and my milk.” (Tune to Frere Jacque, the lullaby, with the words changed up a bit.) Of course we had to be seated next to an older couple (REALLY old!) who would not stop staring at my 4 yr. old who I was allowing to sing. (Not loudly, just in a normal talking voice.) I have always enjoyed this song, and I started humming with him. Look, It wasn’t like I was allowing him to run around the place throwing French fries and screaming at old people. He was saying Please, Thank you, and yes ma’am. After the older couple was done eating, the man came over and said “You know young man, my mother would have never let me sing at the dinner table.” I responded with this “Excuse me, but I would appreciate if you allow me to mother my child. Also, I suggest maybe turning your hearing aide down if you don’t like it.” (Dumb move, I know. New to this town, and already making enemies with the older crowd! GO ME!) IT WAS DAIRY QUEEN FOR CHRISTS SAKE! I thoroughly enjoy to hear my son sing “Oh my my my food it’s so so so good in my my my belly-elly-elly” It’s his way of expressing that he’s happy about eating dinner! If that’s the case then BRING ON THE SINGING, hell up the volume a little bit even! I love the sound of a happy kid. Who doesn’t?! (Besides the obvious…*cough cough* OLD COUPLE FROM DAIRY QUEEN!)

I’m all for laying the law down with a kid, for the simple fact that I think all kids need some sort of structure. Some of these old school rules just take all of the enjoyment out of a good family dinner! Laugh, goof off, sing, have fun, but chew with your mouth closed. Fantastic rules to live by right there.

Signed,

Mom (I love old people.)