Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik": a wonderful composition by our dear Mozart. If you are expecting a thoughtful commentary on the classical genius--turn back now. This is a parenting blog afterall. The following story will challenge your refined taste.

The other night, with baby sleeping cosily in her carseat bed, my husband and I tiptoed into bed making sure not to disturb the restful babe. If we succeeded, she would sleep through the night, if not, she would wake up wanting to be fed and to have some good quality play time.

So what does this have to do with "A Little Nightmusic"? Did we put on a classical CD to ensure she remained asleep? Did we sing her soothing melodies to send her further into dreamland?

We silently got ourselves tucked into bed, said our goodnights, and prepared to join Ginny in dreamland. Then Ginny began to serenade us--she let one rip. And we're not talking a dignified little pipsqueak "toot", rather a long-winded, minute or so concerto that featured Ginny as the sole wind instrument. We looked at each other and burst into laughter. She hadn't woken up though so we buried our faces in the blankets and wiped tears from our eyes in the dark. Now the room was silent. We stopped laughing and peered over the edge of our bed down into hers. Yep. Still asleep. We settled ourselves again and waited for sleep to arrive. But alas! This was only the intermission of Ginny's solo orchestral composition! The sounds echoed on the hard plastic of the carseat. It was as if a booming tympani had been called to join the wind section. This went on for another minute or two, and once again we retreated into the blankets to stifle our laughter. Silence. The score had ended. The last tears were wiped away, and at long last, our family could sleep.

Mozart may have made his musical debut at the age of five, but if you ask me, Ginny is quite the prodigy where her talents are concerned.