To think that DH should just suck it up and get on with it for DD's sake?

[CaffeineShadow]

Hi, I am new to Mumsnet and after a few weeks of observing I finally feel ready to post!
My DD has a couple of sing along Dora books and tonight she had her heart set on reading these books at bed time and having a little sing. My DH said he would take her to bed, a few minutes later DD who is three sounded really upset. I went upstairs to find my DH totally refusing to read (or sing) the books to her and trying to get her to change her mind. In the end I told him to go downstairs and I sang the books instead.
When I went downstairs DH told me that he was embarrassed to sing in front of DD. AIBU to be pissed off that DH will not sing in front of his own DD and that he should just suck it up and get on with it like us mums do?
DH in his younger years used to be in the Sainsbury's Singers and a singer in a band but is too embarrassed to sing to his DD!

Firstly, welcome to MN!

Secondly, YANBU. DH is being a bit of a tit really, I'm sure your DD would've loved to hear him sing to her!

Thank you for your welcome!
Yes, my thought is that a three year old doesn't even know what embarrassment is! Otherwise she wouldn't have tantrums in the supermarket and the like!

YANBU. On what grounds is he refusing?

Welcome. I'm new too! My DH seems a bit reluctant sometimes. Don't really understand why. I'd sing anything as many times as necessary if it meant happy DD and not yelling child from hell. Hence singing wheels on the bus round supermarket badly!

LemonDifficult: He is refusing on the grounds of being too embarrassed.
Wolfiefan: Hahaha sounds familiar, I was singing "I can sing a rainbow" in the park to DD the other day. Glad my DH is not the only reluctant one!

YANBU. Parents are meant to sing badly; that's part of the job. It makes me cringe when I hear a parent singing to a child in a proper "I can really sing, me!" voice, complete with a bit of vibrato (sp?). There's always at least one mum harmonising during "Happy Birthday to You" at every birthday party. Ugh.

What a numpty (him not you)

YANBU.

Now where did you get these Dora singing books because my DD would absolutely love them.

He should make the most of it before she's old enough to be embarrassed by him! Oh the wheels on the bus.......

Quite agree with you. DH refused to sing Happy Birthday one year because I was videoing it .

And as someone who is a dire singer I learnt to just get on and do it when DD1 was a baby as it was one of the few things that would stop her crying in the car... Your DH doesn't have to enjoy it, but I think he does have to do it.

YANBU you should have seen me shaking my maracas today (to Winnie the pooh song book)!

OMG foureyesgood - I had some training yesterday about baby rhyme sessions and the leader said she had experienced an enthusiastic mum harmonising with her for Grand Old Duke Of York! :o very off putting apparently, and even worse when the mum then asked her at the end "did you like my harmonies?"

Like the sound of the maracas Sooty! My DD didn't like the sound of the Kenwood chef so my son and I invented a silly dance to do when we turned it on. No I shan't tell you what we shook but it made us laugh!!

Get SingStar and duet with your husband on a nice love song. Now that does really embarass the children.

It's a shame if he feels he can't sing to her, we all sing (on SingStar, in the car) together, it's massive fun but we do sound like a load of cats. My husband literally drones rather than sings, but it's a laugh. Perhaps your partner will relax over time, or he'll keep hiding his voice and when she gets older you and her can have a good giggle about it

I think there are some things people just feel really uncomfortable doing, maybe for your other half it is singing kids songs - if so that's OK, I am sure there are many other very cool things he does or will do in time with your daughter.

If he felt uncomfortable changing nappies or giving cuddles I'd be a bit more but you and he will do things differently, but your daughter will benefit from the differences.

I wouldn't sing along with Dora either....
If he doesn't feel comfortable, then let him buy/choose some new books that he enjoys reading too. If you like singing, then you do the singing.

he is being a bit precious. Embarassed? In front of a three year old?

I am a crap singer, but even I sang Twinkle, twinkle and 'Wheels on the Bus^ endlessly whenever required.

Wow what a mixed response, thank you everyone!
Thebigkahuna: I think she was given the books as a present. This isn't the same one but did look up "singalong dora" for you and found this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-sing-long-books-Dora-and-Disney-princesses-/330640948905?pt=Pre_School_Picture_Books&hash=item4cfbbc7ea9#ht_500wt_1287

(My DD has been known to ask me to stop singing...)

YANBU! Poor DD....my DH gets all embarrased too...but he does his best and sings and dances when told at all the right moments.

Get DH to join in when stuff is on TV....and you should sing in front of him with DD so DH can learn how to manage his fear.

Beamur - Mine too: "Mummy that is not nice"

OP Of course YANBU especially as he is obviously a reasonable singer.

We used to have to sing "the Millydolly song" for DD, to the tune of Copa Cabana, with our own made up words, which included poo, loudly, on demand, no matter where we were, or face the Wrath of Baby... After she let rip once with a full on meltdown, DH got over his inhibitons and joined in with the rest of the family