I have several other crazy stories to tell, but I'm just not feeling it. Kids do crazy things, and dealing with those crazy things is just part of living with kids. So on a lighter note, I've made a list of songs that are supposed to be love songs dealing with adult relationships, but that I feel translate well into how I feel about my mini-me. Thanks to my awesome sister for giving me suggestions after I told her I was compiling this list.

I had a lot of fun making this list, mostly because I went back and listened to some songs that were significant to me when I was younger but take on an entirely different meaning in the context of this list.

Also, no copyright infringement is intended by my posting of youtube videos for each song; I just want to provide links for people to listen for themselves.

1.) "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqdWTeXWvOg

 This one is pretty self-explanatory based on the title. I like to put it on for us to dance to, and I sing it to her while we're dancing.

2.) "Not Your Fault" by AWOLNATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm9-yVdxbSs

The verses don't really match up to a parent/child relationship, but the line in the chorus is applicable whenever I lose my temper with her: "Baby when I'm yellin' at you, it's not your fault, it's not your fault." I sing this to myself whenever I've yelled at her to remind myself that it really isn't her fault; she's just a kid, and she's going to do crazy kid things. Perhaps I should sing it to her instead.

3.) "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvCBSSwgtg4

The chorus says it all: "I belong with you, you belong with me, my sweetheart." To someone in a relationship, this might mean something different. Since my sweetheart is my daughter and not a lover, the tone changes, but the words still ring true.

4.) "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

"Home is wherever I'm with you." Much of the verses are applicable as well, with lyrics such as "you're the apple of my eye, girl I've never loved one like you" and "laugh until we think we've died, barefoot on a summer night, never knew anything sweeter than with you." It reminds me that we're a family, even if there are only two of us, and that love is what makes a home.

5.) "Every Breath You Take" by The Police

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEnJDaqT3-0

I've always thought this song was completely creepy. However, when my sister mentioned it, I listened to it again and found that it is definitely applicable to the parent/child relationship. It became much less creepy when listening to it in that context.

6.) "I'll Be There" by Jackson 5

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-apaIOOoAo

Another suggestion from my seester. I've always liked this song, though I'm not too comfortable with the idea of children singing a song intended to represent an adult relationship. However, like the stalker song above, it's completely relevant to the way I feel about my kid, so there's that.

7.) "I Swear" by All-4-One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7QwCrlM7RE&feature=related

"For better or worse, til death do us part, I'll love you with every beat of my heart." Yes. I realize these are generally used as marriage vows, but they still apply. Actually, all of this song applies.

8.) "For You I Will" by Monica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lXmNqnaTcY&feature=related

"I will cross the ocean for you, I will go and bring you the moon, I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need; I will be the sun in your sky, I will light your way for all time, I promise you, for you I will." And then there are the verses. How was this not written by a parent for their child?

9.) "Too Dramatic" by Ra Ra Riot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRo7Ed4yfvo

I'd almost forgotten about this one; it used to get stuck in my head for days whenever the munchkin would have a screaming meltdown over something that seemed completely trivial to me.

I wanted to get to ten, but I've been adding to this list for the past couple weeks and I'd like to move on. Comment here or on my facebook page about your favorite grown-up song for your kid(s)! (Remember, it doesn't count if it was actually written for a kid.)