Ask Alternadad
First, some procedural notes:
Attention, Southern California-area readers: I'm having a book party for Alternadad tomorrow night, Tuesday, January 9. It's at the Echo, 1822 W. Sunset Blvd. 7-10 PM. Hope to see you there.
Also, Dadcentric has a very nice review of Alternadad today.
Now then. A concerned reader writes:
"I have a problem with my 11 year-old son. When he was born I swore that he would never be allowed to listen to shitty music. Years ago I introduced him to Sabbath, Agent Orange, the Ramones, X, Meat Puppets, and I even swallowed my pride and let him listen to kiddie punkers like MxPx and Good Charlotte, and even a few Green Day songs. Now he is 11, and got an Ipod Nano for his birthday. "Cool!", I thought, "I'll get him a gift card for I Tunes for Christmas!" Great idea, right? WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! He has been downloading P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake and some asshole named Akon with Eminem. What did I do wrong? Should I give up and focus on his little brother? Should I tell him to leave the pop MTV shit out of this house or he's moving out? Should I tell him that I despise this music, and that I don't watch MTV, or allow him to, for the same reason his mother refuses to shop at Walmart? What do you think, Neal? I might have to snake the Ipod and say his mother washed it in the laundry! He was so cute listening to Meat Puppets or riding his little bike with the Black Flag sticker on it..."
My answer after the bump.
Dear Reader:
I wouldn't be too worried about your son's current interest in Ringtone Rock. He's at the age where Top-40-style crap is being beamed directly into his brain. And, honestly, Justin Timberlake's not all that bad. We all have regrettable music in our pasts. My first concert was Huey Lewis and the News, for heaven's sake! Your son will make his own musical choices. Some of them will agree with you, and others won't. But in the long run, he'll be a better man for you having played your music for him when he was young. Kids remember stuff like that down the line. You never know when the rock might awaken in him.
Best,
Ann Landers
Comments
Rock Daddy, Rock Daddy,
You have no complaint.
You are what you are,
and you ain't what you ain't.
So listen up, Buster,
And listen up good:
Stop wishing for bad luck
And knocking on wood.
Signed,
Dear Abby
p.s. Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore.
Posted by: Dear Abby | January 8, 2007 12:48 PM
Getting wasted and throwing the kid into the sea would be very rock and roll.
Posted by: Tim | January 8, 2007 2:15 PM
Getting the kid wasted and throwing P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Akon and Eminem into the sea would be very R 'n R
Posted by: How About Two? | January 8, 2007 2:51 PM
It's the kid's JOB to horrify you, dude. You don't want him to parrot your every Top 10 list. Otherwise, he'll be 30 and living at home, wearing your faded Flesheaters t-shirt, eating your ice cream.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2007 7:41 AM
I guess you guys are right. I shouldn't overreact or worry about it. I do like the idea of throwing those pop stars into the sea, though.
Posted by: punkerdad | January 9, 2007 10:09 AM
And whatever you do, don't ever show any sign of disapproval. Because once you do, it will only get worse, and he may even start up his own boy/hair band to play shitty music because it'll piss you off. Proceed with caution. He'll come around.
Posted by: mamanista | January 10, 2007 11:09 AM
I suggest you embrace the dork factor. Crank up the Justin and sing along loudly. Get your belly button pierced, wear a mid-riff shirt with baggy pants and a thick gold chain. Won't take your boy too long to run screaming the other way. :D
Posted by: Mabel | January 17, 2007 7:13 PM