It’s always amusing to hear the world interpreted through the innocent and often confused minds of children. As a parent, I’ve learned to cherish these moments of unintentional comedy, not just for the immediate laugh, but also to remember these precious glimpses into their developing understanding. This is one such story from a recent bath time that perfectly encapsulates the delightful misunderstandings that come with parenting and pop culture.
Two evenings ago, during the usual bath time routine, my seven-year-old daughter, Vivian, posed a question that stopped me in my tracks.
“What’s a Disco Stick and Why Do You Ride It?” A Bath Time Question
Vivian, with the innocent curiosity only a seven-year-old can possess, looked at me with wide eyes and asked, “What’s a disco stick and why do you ride on it?”
My mind blanked for a second. “Wait, what?!” was my initial, slightly panicked response. Where on earth did this come from?
She clarified, “Yeah, you know, that Lady Gaga song you were singing and dancing to this morning?”
Ah, Lady Gaga. Guilty as charged. Earlier that day, I had indeed been enjoying one of her undeniably catchy tunes around the house. It clicked.
Vivian then proceeded to sing, with surprising accuracy, the chorus: “Let’s have some fun. This beat is sick. I wanna take a ride on your disco stick… So what’s a disco stick and why do you ride on it?”
Her rendition, combined with the innocent confusion in her voice, was both hilarious and slightly mortifying. How do you explain the suggestive undertones of a Lady Gaga song to a seven-year-old in the middle of bath time? I stammered, trying to find a kid-friendly explanation.
Explaining Lady Gaga to a Seven-Year-Old (and a Toddler)
Trying to keep my composure and avoid blushing, I opted for a vague but hopefully sufficient explanation. “Um, it’s an expression, sweetie,” I started, carefully choosing my words. “People like to dance, and you might see something like this on a dance floor when you’re older…” It was a stretch, I knew, but what else could I say in the moment? How did my own parents navigate explaining Madonna’s early hits to me? Parenting truly comes full circle.
Just when I thought I had navigated that potentially awkward moment, Vivian, undeterred, launched back into the song. And then, the real kicker: her two-year-old sister, almost three, joined in. The chorus of “Let’s have some fun. This beat is sick. I wanna take a ride on your disco stick…” echoed through the bathroom in adorable, slightly off-key toddler voices.
My husband walked in at precisely that moment, greeted by his daughters enthusiastically singing about riding disco sticks. I burst out laughing.
Parenting, Pop Songs, and Unintentional Comedy
“I guess I might get a phone call from the teachers or other parents soon,” I chuckled, imagining the potential misunderstandings. “Oh well. It is a fun song. They don’t know what it really means.”
My husband, with a wry smile, responded, “Great, just great. I love hearing my daughters talk about riding disco sticks.” His sarcasm was well-placed and added to the humor of the situation.
“I know, but it’s just a song to them,” I reassured him, and myself. “Tomorrow it will be something else…” Probably something equally hilarious and unexpected.
The whole episode remains a funny reminder of the joys and challenges of parenting in the age of pop music. While I’m not about to shield my kids from the world, including song lyrics that might be a little suggestive, I will definitely encourage them to ask questions and talk to me about anything that catches their attention – especially if it involves Lady Gaga and her “disco stick” song. After all, these conversations, however funny or awkward, are valuable opportunities to connect and guide them as they navigate the complexities of the world around them, one catchy pop song at a time.
