Insanity Jam Session

We were driving home from the beach when 4 year old Luke lost it.

By “lost it,” I mean, overtired-middle-child-syndrome-broken-record-insane-chanting lost it.

We were listening to children’s music in the car, and I guess Luke wanted it to be a little louder.

From the back of the car I heard, “Mama, I can’t hear.”

But, when I directly addressed his complaint by turning up the music to a volume level a few notches lower than Will Definitely Deafen You, he continued with, “Mama, I can’t hear.”

I tried to make a joke and said, “When we get home, we’ll have the doctor check your ears again,” he just repeated, “Mama, I can’t hear.”

And so on. And so on.

Nothing could make him stop.

Mama, I can’t hear. Mama, I can’t hear. Mama, I can’t hear. Others started to pipe in to get him to stop, from direct orders (Daddy) to threats of throwing him in the toilet and flushing (big sis).  No dice.

We were at least 20 minutes from home. If we survived that long. And this, I thought, would a fabulous business opportunity to sell Parent Transportation Survival Packs containing ibuprofen, earplugs, an aromatherapy neck pillow and a wine thermos (not for the driver! Drink responsibly).

Paaaaainful.

So what could we do? We turned up the children’s music, now playing that song from the Muppets, “Mahna Mahna.” It sounded like this:

Mahna Mahna

Mama I can’t hear

Mahna Mahna

Mama I can’t hear

(big sis): Luke! I want to put you in the toilet and flush you!

Mahna Mahna

Mama I can’t hear

(baby Emile strumming his lips – bwwwww)

Mahna Mahna…

It was like an Insanity Car Trip with Children impromptu jam session! I mean, the Von Trapp family singers have nothing on us! All the stress of the moment came crashing over The Husband and me. We suddenly burst into shaking laughter. The tune was that catchy. And that was the only thing that got us home mentally in one piece. Luke? Oh, he stopped eventually and reset himself to the normal boy we know and love with a good night’s sleep, but the memories and melodies of that special time in the car will stay with us forever.