Kaavia James experienced what pretty much every adult has experienced this holiday season — the infuriating frustration that comes with knowing you know the right way to do something (stuff the turkey, wrap the presents, yada yada), and being downright ignored by your family. The 6-year-old looked like she might lose her mind in a new video where she’s gearing up to sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with her parents Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade.
“You need to play the song,” she says to the adults who are listing off the lyrics and repeating them back to one another. Kaavia — who keeps throwing her head back, sighing, and rolling her eyes — is clearly thinking, “Why are we yapping when we could just get to singing?”
At one point, she completely folds herself in half on the banquette, before popping up and saying, “You’re not doing it right,” throwing her arms up in the air for emphasis.
And we know we shouldn’t be enjoying her frustration, but it’s so fun and funny to see Kaavia’s sassy side come out. After all, there’s a reason she’s affectionately known as “Shady Baby.”
Wade tries to explain that they’re just trying to learn the words, to which Kaavia rolls her eyes. “You could learn the words with the song when it’s playing.”
But no one listens to little Kaav. They keep repeating the lyrics that are apparently stumping Wade. He asks, “They got a new version of this?” And yes, that earned himself an epic eye roll from Kaavia.
Followers were cracking up over the little girl’s antics and urging the adults to “play the damn song.”
“Kaav is so over it” “???????????????????????????????? she is over y’all” “Yall done stressed Kaav out so bad!! ????????????”
“SHE’S NOT WRONG!!! ???????????? you need to learn the words WITH the song while it’s playing”
Truly! So what if you mess up a few lyrics? It’s famously one of the most repetitive songs out there — you’ll get the hang of it! “ Based on a short video on Kaavia’s Instagram, there was at least a little bit of singing while Kaavia danced and acted as the conductor.
The hilarious original clip is just one part of a sweet carousel from the holiday celebrations. “A Wade Family Christmas East Coast Edition Before Kaavia Goes Solo ???? ???? ❄️ ????,” Wade captioned a joint post with himself, his wife, and his youngest daughter.
The carousel also includes stunning family photos of the three standing along the coast of Long Island at sunset, a video of Kaavia excitedly opening up a Hello Kitty present, and a video that shows just how different she and her dad can be (even if they’re twins!).
In the clip, Wade is bundled up on the beach, grooving around by himself. “He is really just living,” Union narrates, as her hubby dances, skips stones across the water, and throws them in as if they’re basketballs.
“Now that is Christmas joy,” Union said. And the NBA Hall of Famer does look so relaxed and cheerful — clearly unphased by all the eye rolls that were [rightfully?] sent his way. Now, if everyone would just play “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” maybe the internet’s favorite shady baby could experience some Christmas joy herself.
Before you go, check out Kaavia James’ very best ‘Shady Baby’ moments.
