Has anyone ever stopped to ask why this song is so popular? My husband was a DJ, and of the hundreds and thousands of songs that exist in the world, this song was one of the most requested songs at weddings, proms, birthdays, etc…

I’ve seen normal, dignified people interrupt conversations in mid-sentence to form letters using their hands. I once had a director in my previous organization say she was upset with me because she had requested that my husband play this song, and he didn’t. She’s right, too. I specifically asked that he NOT play the song. If the song were good, that would be different, but it’s not. (But I once went to a New Kids on the Block concert so I’m not sure I’m qualified to give an opinion about what music is good.)

But I think I’ve discovered the secret behind the song. Having never been to the YMCA, I couldn’t tell you whether it was fun or not, but since my husband and I are both working full-time now, Lexi has spent several weeks at the YMCA summer camp.
The official word is that “it’s fun to stay at the YMCA.” And why not? Instead of hanging out with adults all day, she gets to spend all day with a 100+ kids equally as rambunctious as her, with counselors who let the kids call them by their first names, at a facility that provides swimming, archery, basketball, and dance lessons while also encouraging them to dress up in costumes every Friday.

I can understand why she doesn’t want to come home at the end of the day. How does a parent compete with that? We don’t even try. I think it’s fantastic, and I wish I had had the opportunity to go as a child. Unlike Lexi, I had five siblings and didn’t want for playmates, but I had a lot of excess energy and would have enjoyed the wide range of activities she is exposed to daily.

One thing I know for sure is that the next time the song comes on, I’m still not going to dance to it. Maybe had I gone to the YMCA, I would have learned how to dance! I might sing the song though…in my head.