Name: Lauren
Vienna, VA
Number of kids: 1
Ages of kids: 28 months
Problem: My husband thinks I should lighten up; I'm submitting my problem to the Web. Here it is: We have a 28 month old girl and my husband has been teaching her "99 bottles of beer on the wall." You know, the song that counts backwards. She seems to love it. I am ticked, as I don't think it's age appropriate. I don't like the reference to beer; she can't count backwards yet. I remember singing this song in elementary or junior high school, and don't credit it to any developmental problems for me--I just think 28 months is too young. Am I being ridiculous, or do I have a legitimate gripe? Thanks.
Solution submitted by Rosie from Belgium: You are being ridiculous. Count yourself lucky that your daughter and her father spend time together enjoying something simple like singing an innocent little song. If you worry about this sort of thing now, what are you going to do when the outside world starts having an influence on her ? I'll tell you what will happen, you'll be a control-freak for as long as possible and after that you'll crack up. Lighten up!!!
Another solution submitted by Aileen from WA: Well... at this point the two year old probably has no clue as to whether he/she is saying "99 beers" or "99 Stuffed Chickens," so I wouldn't be too concerned about any long term problems.
However, if it is of some concern to you that "beer" should be something else such as "soda" and your husband disregards this, I think that is more where your problem lies. You should sit down and discuss that even though it may seem trivial and silly to him that you want this changed, it is important to you and should therefore be important to him as a matter of respect. Good luck, and work on that communication!
Another solution submitted by "Kendell" from Henderson, NV: I agree. This song may not be one I would choose to teach our 2 year old, however I do not think it will scar her in any way. Remember, the way you behave and the examples you set are the direct reflections of you that you will see in your children. I am not a perfect parent, nor am I a perfect example; however, our older kids are well mannered, polite and kind in spite of my occasional use of profanity. What I am saying is even though our kids hear the inappropriate things, they have been raised well enough not to use them and to know it is unacceptable. Please talk to your husband...if you can. It sounds like you are really disturbed by this, and that he is not hearing how upset you really are...or just does not care. Good Luck!! Let us know how it all works out.
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