While my life as a wife and mother is truly wonderful, I sometimes need to be reminded of that. Macaroni Boy Eats at Chez Shooby Doo, the debut album from Ginger Hendrix, celebrates life with young children, and reminds me that singing and laughing and having fun are the best way to enjoy these years (rather than obsessing about making the most perfect cake ever for the PTO bake sale or having my younger son fully potty trained before age two).
Macaroni Boy is an outgrowth of Ginger's sing-alongs at her sons' school, and the last four tracks were actually recorded live at the school, with a chorus of moms backing her. Aside from these moms and her own two sons singing along on a few songs, and some occasional percussion, the album is just Ginger and her guitar. With a voice that is so full of personality, and her brilliant delivery of such hilarious lyrics, there's no need for any more. This do-it-yourself element was especially appealing to me. Seeing a mom write and record an album pretty much on her own – and completely nailing it – is inspiring.
When our family listens to Macaroni Boy, we sing along and laugh out loud. The very matter-of-fact "My Daddy Loves Tools" (He needs a router, a miter, a socket set / so he can route and mite and sock) and my favorite "How the Days Go By" ( Sometimes we go shopping in the afternoon / take a nice big loop around Target / chew some gum, drink a lemonade / maybe go home with all new socks) reflect bits of family life in a way that is simultaneously silly and meaningful. Others, like the title track and "Funny Word Dictionary", are full-on silly, making Macaroni Boy a perfect album to enjoy as a family, especially when the family needs a big laugh. It will remind you that life with young kids really is wonderful, and worth singing about.
Amy Davis is the author of the The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tells You What To Think.
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