In all the time I spent focusing on surviving the early teen years of the girl child, I forgot that, right about the time that delicate dance would get somewhat manageable, the boy child would be readying himself for his grand entrance into the world of the pubescent male. Now at a disadvantage due to our being opposite genders, I look at my son like a social experiment with great interest. His bedroom door is now always shut. All of a sudden, he actually closes the bathroom door when he showers. What is this about? It was just under a year ago that he walked out of the shower wrapped in a towel and did his famous sundial routine he learned from one of his favorite childhood movies. In this routine, he walks up to me in a towel after a shower, rips it open, stands in front of me in all his glory, turns his head to the side and asks, “Do you wanna buy a sundial?” When he was five, I couldn’t help but laugh every time because it was so ridiculous. The last time he performed this routine, there was no doubt that not only did I have zero interest in buying a sundial, but I also needed him to close the store permanently. That gig was over.

Sundial Cartoon

Yes, it was just last school year when he still insisted I walk him to bed every night, give him a big hug and hang out for a bit. I cherished those moments with him, but one night I was just too tired to comply with his request. This particular night, I was completely exhausted and already in bed myself. I was five minutes away from shutting off the TV and entering into sweet slumber when I noticed my son was starting to sing to me. Before I tell you exactly what happened, I should share that I love music. I even try to slip what my kids would consider “oldies” into my parenting when they take me off guard with a conversation. When the kids are speaking negatively about themselves and need reassurance, I can always turn to Whitney and tell them, “I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” When I get tired of them asking me for things, I turn to Janet’s “What have you done for me lately?” If they need support, I might count on Cyndi and say, “If you’re lost you can look and you will find me, time after time. If you fall I will catch you I will be waiting, time after time.” At some point, I’ll probably dip back into the eighties again to tell my son, “That girl is poison. Never trust a big butt and a smile.”  That’s one of the great things about music: It can give you the words when you don’t know exactly what to say. Well, little did I know my son had a classic tune just waiting for the perfect moment to be shared. You see, when my son realized that I wasn’t going to leave my comfy bed, and that he would not get his regular goodnight routine, he began to sing. What did he sing? The Marvin Gaye classic, “Let’s Get It On.”

Before you turn off your computer and walk away from this story, give me a moment to explain. I want you to picture my almost twelve-year-old son gently taking my hand, pulling me out of my bed, and singing this song to me with the assumption that it is about his being tired and trying to get mom, the one who loves him and whom he loves back, to get up out of bed to walk him to his room and get on with this nightly routine. Try it . . .

I’ve been really tryin’, baby (He thought it said I’ve been really tired, baby)

Tryin’ to hold back this feeling for so long

And if you feel like I feel, baby

Then, c’mon, oh, c’mon

Let’s get it on

Ah, baby, let’s get it on

Let’s love, baby

Let’s get it on, sugar

Let’s get it on

We’re all sensitive people

With so much to give

Understand me sugar,

Since we’ve got to be here

Let’s live

I love you

There’s nothing wrong with me

Loving you, baby no no

And giving yourself to me

Can never be wrong

If the love is true

Can you imagine all the thoughts I had? He pulled me out of bed and walked me across the living room while singing this. I had to know where he had heard this song. How did he know every single word? Was I being pranked?

The song had been featured on a Reese’s Easter Bunny candy commercial. During the commercial, the chocolate bunny and the Reese’s peanut butter join together while the song plays. (Who comes up with this stuff?) Anyway, he had heard the song, liked it, found it online, and loaded it to his play list. He played that song regularly for a week. It was an uncomfortable week. However, now I have a good giggle every time this song comes on, and surprisingly, it is on quite a bit.

Thankfully, that was the only time he serenaded me with some Marvin Gaye. It wasn’t much better when, during the same nighttime scenario, he was begging me with the “walk this way, talk this way” Aerosmith lyric while pulling me through the living room a few days later. He took that one from a Wal-Mart commercial.

And now, just over a year later, I am thankful to report that the sundial store has remained closed. The nighttime talks are shorter, and he has not begged me to tuck him in for some time. I often find myself talking to him only to realize he’s wearing headphones and not aware of a word I’ve said. I offered to pick up his favorite burger and drop it off during his lunch last week, but he said he didn’t know his lunchtime. I knew this was code for, “Do not ever enter the cafeteria when I am hanging out with my dudes.” This kid loves burgers, so I took it seriously. The tables have turned as I am the one asking for snuggles now. He stays up later than me most nights, so he is now the one to come to my bedside and give me a quick hug and kiss.

The word “classic” is defined as “serving as a standard of excellence; of recognized value.” I hope you have a classic kind of love in your life.  I’m thankful that I do. Without any cringing, with just a smile on my face, I have a Marvin Gaye lyric to share with you, son. How sweet it is to be loved by you.