Fairyland Upside Down & Sideways

How many of you remember Rocky and Bullwinkle's segment of Fractured Fairy Tales? Or maybe the Sesame Street Gang managing to mangle something like The Three Little Pigs? As a child, these stories would have my brother and I in fits of giggles.

Now that I have children of my own, I have finally figured out how these twisted tales come into being. Sheer boredom. That's right - you can only read the same book or story so many times before the absurd fairy comes down and bonks you with her wand of silliness. The kids are smart, they can tell when I've been annointed and their sleepy eyes will open and they beg "Tell it YOUR way, Mommy!"

Now, truth to tell, my way is not usually fit for literary print. Usually because I can't remember it later! However, there are a few things I do remember and this is one of our favorites.

I soon discovered that trying to read to my children had a serious drawback. It puts ME to sleep. After a full day's work, the droning sound of my own voice would knock me out in two seconds flat. This allowed my children free rein to late evening TV. Not a good thing after a few phone calls from the teacher asking where so and so picked up "that word!"

So, singing became my second option. Lullabies are soothing without causing me to have a narcoleptic episode. Although, I am the first to admit, Lucille Ball on her worst day, sounds like a diva compared to me.

Unfortunately, between the pronunciation of the small ones and my own wacky sense of humor, they didn't stay soothing. A predilection toward Dr Demento and Weird Al by yours truly didn't help the situation either. We ended up with such hits as 99 Bottles of Ketchup on the Wall (ya know- take one down and squirt it around!) and On Top of Mostaciolli all Covered with Sneeze (I lost my poor meatball when somebody cheesed!) .

I am now down to my last preschooler after a hiatus of nearly 10 years. I thought maybe being older and wiser to the ways of children might possibly save me. Alas, the good Lord saved the best joke for the youngest.

Not only does this child enjoy the goofy, backwards, mucked up messes I can make out of stories and songs, she actively encourages me. Mary Had a Little Lamp, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Guy, and a host of other oddities have come about because of her unique hearing. I can't wait until she's old enough to go through my library of wacky songs with me.

As parents, we all think our children are the cutest, brightest and cleverest little prodigies on the planet. I am no exception. I have learned a few thing along the way from them. Such as:

• All houses have volcanoes on them in the winter
• Cemetaries are where all the dinosaur bones get buried.
• If it's too hot you're burning down
• Shampoodissoner will clean your hair and your body.
• Fwantits are large grey animals with trunks

And the ultimate all time favorite from 3am - "Mommy, I gots the pukin's!"

Of such goofy moments are made some of the best of a mother's memories. I save them religously as so many mothers do.

A child's view of the world is often wacky and surprisingly thought provoking and the absurd fairy has a tendency to wave the silly wand at the oddest moments. So take a moment a share yours in the comments below. We could all use a little bit of kid humor in our lives.