to feel so sad that DD is discovering awful things about the world? From Rolf Harris?

[IHeartKingThistle]

It is silly, but I AM sad.

DD is 5.5. I always sing her a song at bedtime and for the last few nights she has asked for 'Two Little Boys'. For the life of me I can't remember how on earth she knows this song, but anyway. Lots of questions about soldiers, and battles, and war.

I have explained as clearly and gently as I can. She was not upset, just curious and interested.

But I feel sad. It feels like the beginning of her finding out how evil the world can be. I don't want her to know .

Is banning Rolf Harris the answer?

[MoreBeta]

Well we must not forget that the nursery rhyme Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses was about bubonic plague.

Children are always curious and I suppose its our job to help them understand the bad (and good) things in the World and show them how we feel about it.

[RuleBritannia]

The Two Little Boys song was about helping people, thinking of others and sharing. Promote that way of looking at it.

[OpheliaPayneAgain]

I can remember howling at that age with The Alexander Brothers, Nobodies Child, still makes me howl.


As I was slowly passing
an orphan's home one day,
I stopped for just a little while
to watch the children play.
Alone a boy was standing
and when I asked him why,
he turned with eyes that could not see
and he began to cry.

I'm nobody's child,
I'm nobody's child.
I'm like a flower
Just growing wild.
no mummy's kisses
and no daddy's smiles.
Nobody wants me,
I'm nobody's child.

No mummy's arms to hold me
or sue me when I cry,
sometimes I feel so loneLY
I wish that I could die.
I'll walk the streets of heaven
where all blinds can see.
And just like for the other kids
it will be a home for me.

I'm nobody's child,
I'm nobody's child.
I'm like a flower
Just growing wild.
No mummy's kisses
And,no daddy's smiles.
Nobody wants me,
I'm nobody's child

[WheatenFarlo]

There is nothing like having children to make you wish the world was a kinder place. I know I do, every day. On the up side you know you are very lucky really that she has got this far without seeing it.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Ophelia are you trying to kill me?

I know this is one of the things I have to do as a parent. I will do it and I will follow this good advice and not be ridiculous.

Just don't want to.

[Proudnscary]

I've just played my two Billy Don't Be A Hero and explained what it means and my hardcore, tomboy 8 year old girl cried!

(Billy Don't Be A Hero was a massive hit in the late 70s about a young bloke killed in battle if you don't know)

[IHeartKingThistle]

Wheaten thankyou for that. So many kids know about horrible things from a much much younger age.

[degutastic]

yanbu to want to ban Rolf Harris

[WilsonFrickett]

I went to a Catholic school. From the age of 6 - 6! We sang in the church choir at funerals. Rolf Harris ain't got nothing on me. There is a hymn called Going Home that goes to the tune of the Hovis ad (I know, ) that was guaranteed to have us all wailing into our hymnals. Totally traumatising.

[tethersend]

Never mind that, what about the senseless brutality of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport?

Rolf needs to be stopped before he poisons all of our children's brains and/or ears

[RonettePulaski]

Thank god! I thought this would be about urophagia

[DinosaurSchool]

It is a shame though when you know your children won't be innocent for ever. I try to share the bare minimum and then say "But that's something grown-ups worry about. Mummy and Daddy are here to look after you" etc etc.

Though my eldest (5 yr old) happily chats on about burglars in our house and asking when we'll die

[TessCowDirect]

yy - have you any idea how distressing it is for a child to learn about "Jake the Peg, with his extra leg"

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh no I've started a Rolf-bashing thread! I actually think he's pretty great

[redrubyshoes]

I love Rolf. Listen to him singing a duet with some Aussie girl to 'Dear Narelle' and say you don't wish it was Kylie singing with him.

It would bring a tear to a glass eye.

'Sonny' is another one to break you up.

[Kewcumber]

Ophelia - if it still upsets you then you need to make up a verse to tack on the end - my DS was adopted from an orphanage and is now a very much loved, happy, healthy 7 year old. One sad moment in time doesn't mean a sad end to the story!

lIf you have the time

[Teahouse]

What about fairy tales; gruesome happenings in every one. Anyway, best she learns now that life is a bitch...

[Anonymumous]

My sons love Two Little Boys - it was the first song I ever sang to DS2! I think it's a lovely, touching song.

P.S. I'm so relieved that this is a light-hearted thread. For a horrible moment there I thought Rolf Harris was the latest person to be arrested in this BBC paedophile scandal.

[TessCowDirect]

I love Two Little Boys and used to sing it to DS1 & 2 then lecture them on how they should love one another and not fight etc. etc.

[RubyrooUK]

I was reading two year old DS a book of nursery rhymes the other night. We got to Three Blind Mice and I got ready to do some bloodthirsty miming of the tails being cut off with a carving knife (always my favourite bit) when I discovered the book had been sanitised. It no longer mentioned the tail chopping!!!!

DS was vastly disappointed. We turned to sing Ring o' Roses to cheer ourselves up with a bit of Black Death. And wouldn't you know it, it had been sanitised to something like "the doggy chased the kitty" instead of sneezing and falling down.

So perhaps Rolf is the only one left telling it like it is.....

[bruffin]

Prefabricated
We used to act out Billy Don't Be a Hero in the school playground.
Also remember when Two Little Boys was No 1, I must have been 7.
Rolfs lovely, we went to see him and he had so much time for every one afterwards. His books were for sale and he drew a little picture in each one with his autograph.

[TessCowDirect]

Ruby - how does it end now? what happens to the mice?

[IHeartKingThistle]

I am simultaneously crying at Kewcumber's beautiful montage and giggling at Anonymumous. I can't handle this much emotion on a Tuesday - I'm going to have a bath.

[HoneyDragon]

You arses. This thread has made me well up.

[redrubyshoes]

I sing Carra Barra to my Dc's they love it.