Taylor Swift reveals the awkward moment the Kelces met the royal family<\/a>.) Prince George prefers rock music and is a fan of AC\/DC (who would have guessed?), while Prince Louis wants to listen to singer-songwriter Alex Warren.<\/p>\nIt’s the same on my side of the pond, though the specifics are different.<\/p>\n
My son is currently studying violin at school and has become a devoted fan of classical music. If it were entirely up to him, we\u2019d spend every drive listening to orchestral pieces or, perhaps, a middle-grade audiobook. (We’re still not over The Wild Robot series.)<\/p>\n
My daughter, meanwhile, has recently become a full-fledged Michael Jackson superfan after seeing the new biopic three times in theaters so far \u2014 and counting (this weekend will bring the fourth). If she controlled the playlist, we\u2019d be listening to \u201cBillie Jean,\u201d \u201cBeat It,\u201d and \u201cMan in the Mirror\u201d every morning without fail.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s me.<\/p>\n
Personally, I\u2019d love to use the drive to catch up on professional writing podcasts or listen to voice notes from friends. Unfortunately, neither option tends to be especially popular with children, and most of those voice notes are definitely not intended for younger audiences.<\/p>\n
As much as royal life differs from ordinary family life, this particular disagreement feels remarkably universal. It doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re leaving Windsor Castle or pulling out of an L.A. driveway. Put multiple people in a car together, and they’re all going to have strong opinions about what\u2019s coming through the speakers.<\/p>\n
Of course, the problem has only gotten worse in the streaming era. When I was growing up, families often listened to whatever happened to be on the radio. Now everyone has their own playlists, favorite artists, podcasts, and recommendations tailored specifically to their tastes.<\/p>\n
More choice is great. More choice also means more negotiations. And I’m usually the last priority, having to save my content until after those kids grab their backpacks and head into school.<\/p>\n
So while I can\u2019t relate to raising a future king, I can absolutely relate to Kate Middleton\u2019s latest parenting confession. The battle for control of the morning playlist is real \u2014 and apparently even royal families haven\u2019t figured out how to solve it.<\/p>\n
Want more stories like this? Use the button below to follow me for more relatable Xennial takes on lifestyle and pop culture.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n