Mom, What's a disco stick?

Driving in the car last week, I was listening to the radio and Lady Gaga was singing her "Disco stick" song. (If you have never heard it, this is the link for you to listen.) Brendan sincerely and inquisitively looked at me and said, "Mom, what's a disco stick?"

Hmmm. . . I stalled desperately trying not to actually state what a disco stick was.

I stated, "Well, Brendan, I think a disco stick is something she just has fun with." Ok, I know this is a totally lame answer, but I was struggling. Pop music has always presented less than stellar ways to embarrass parents, and I was stuck.

So, Brendan asks, "Then Mom, why does she want to ride the disco stick?"

Mentally, the brakes shriek. WHAT?? Yikes. My lame answer was meant to pacify you, not incite more questions. I wasn't thinking about the absolute horrible insinuations in the lyrics.

"Umm.. . Brendan, I don't know. I think she is just weird."

That seemed to stall him. He could understand that maybe she was just slightly off kilter and talked about crazy things. Not necessarily a great strategy, but it worked.

But I realized that this will happen increasingly as they get older. They want to know and understand what is happening in the world around them, and Lady Gaga forced the issue for me a little earlier than I would have liked.

Music helps set my mood, but maybe for now, I'll just leave the radio off.