Rise and Shine

I don’t remember the first time I saw Disney’s Song of the South, but it is one of my all time favorites.  It brought to life some of my favorite characters from childhood stories and had one of the happiest tunes I’ve ever heard.  It’s the kind of tune that you can’t even think about without smiling.
 When I married in 1971, I gained an enchanting daughter of eight and a delightful son of six as well as a loving husband.  He was off to work early every morning so I was left to ready the youngsters for school.  I quickly discovered that neither of them were morning people and wouldn’t get up without sufficient prodding.  Not wanting to argue, yell or bully—no one really wants to be the wicked step-mother—I searched for a workable alternative.
 Thus, each morning I would enter their room, open their curtains, and tell them once it was time to “rise and shine” then begin singing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.  Amidst their groans and protests I would catch their smiles.  By the time summer vacation began I had convinced them to get-up upon my first request and I only sang if they didn’t comply.