A Little More Sense

Every morning, on the short drive to the bus stop, Osamu insists on choosing a song. Well first I start with my choice and when we get to the top of the hill in 3-Chome he always says, "Can I choose a song now?" It’s become his little ritual, calling out requests from the backseat. Mostly it's a song I know and that I can yell at Siri to play while I drive, sometimes it’s something from a movie or a random YouTube discovery. But this morning, he surprised me: Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House.

The opening notes hit, and for a second, I wondered... does this resonate with him, or was it just a random pick? But as we drove through the quiet, winter-morning streets, he sat there, listening, really listening.

"There is freedom within, there is freedom without..."

I think it’s a song about resilience, about holding on when the world seems determined to pull you under. It’s about something slipping away, but also about the quiet determination to keep going. I glanced at Osamu in the rear view mirror, his face still and thoughtful. Maybe he just liked the melody, or maybe, just maybe, something in the song reached him. He's six, though. It's the melody. And also a little that it comes up on papa's playlists sometimes.

Watching him and Kenzo explore music is one of those things I didn’t expect to love so much as a parent. It’s not just about what they like. It’s about why they like it. I don’t want them to love Bob Dylan or CCR just because I do. I want them to find music that stirs something in them, that makes them think, that makes them feel. Music that makes the world make a little more sense, or at least makes the ride to school more interesting.

Growing up, I was a bit of a weirdo compared to my friends. While they were rockin out to Bon Jovi and Motley Crue, I was diving deep into Weird Al and Dr. Demento, cracking up over parody songs and bizarre deep cuts that no one else seemed to care about. I knew my tastes were different, and I sometimes felt like a bit of a freak. But looking back, that was me... that was what made me happy. And if I could go back, I’d tell myself not to worry so much about what was “cool” and just enjoy what I loved without hesitation.

That’s what I want for the boys. Not just with music, but with everything in life. Don’t be embarrassed by what you truly like. Be true to yourself. Don’t compare your tastes with others. Be proud of what moves you, what excites you, what makes you you.

As the song faded out and we pulled up to the bus stop parking lot, Osamu unbuckled his seatbelt and said casually, “That was good. Let's listen to it again next time.”

That’s enough for me.

Comments

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