Good Wednesday to You All! I am blessed with one child who is now a young adult, so my experience is that of raising one child at one time. I love and adore our daughter, and relished at every stage of raising a strong willed, curious, human who loved to learn and had questions and often answers about EVERYTHING!  

I remember other parents explaining that two children increased efforts ten fold, not double.  It has also been said that one child takes up 100% of your time,  two children take up 100% of your time, three children take 100% of your time, and you see the pattern. Pre-motherhood I could time getting out the door down to the minute.  As a mother of an infant, getting out the door first took three hours.

As a new Mommy, I remember wanting to make sure I was doing everything right! I didn't want to make a mistake, and yet as a Mommy I always explained to our daughter that mistakes were OK. Mistakes are how we learn.  

Imagine, as a parent instead of LOOKING for what we may be doing wrong, we focus on what we are doing right! What are we doing that is nurturing, loving, supportive, nourishing, fun, essential, sustaining? What am I modelling for my child that will serve them well?  What am I doing right? 

Congratulations on showing up for your child/ren, regardless of being sleep deprived, or having piles of unfolded laundry, or work piling up, or a myriad of factors specific to your life.  Congratulations for showing up.  

In short, I encourage every parent to be gentle with yourselves, and use the music we provide in class and for your continued use of song throughout your day.  Breathe for yourself during the lullaby as well. Breathe deep, stretch and sing, laugh with your child and have fun.  Have fun and let us lead for you during class so you can BE.  Brava and Bravo to You! Thank you. ~Wendy

Well, today teacher Adrienne was subbing for teacher Joy's 8:30 AM Music Together^® Online mixed ages class via Zoom.  

When one of our Dads joined the class with his toddler daughter and said: 

" You remember Adrienne, she was your teacher when we used to go places."

The enormity of that perfect, succinct, age appropriate statement for his beloved little girl, resonated like a trumpets blare throughout my being.

In that moment, when that awesome Dad struck that chord in me, I realized that it may resonate for you too.

We have all been so busy getting through this time, that this may be the perfect time to take a minute, and reflect on how you are doing today.

Being my first post, I guess this works with me going first.

I am filled with gratitude that we have been able to switch to Music Together Online, to all of the families who have made this transition with all of us, and to Nini, Dulce, Adrienne, Joy, Alexandra, and Ginny who too, were determined to keep our Community of Music Makers - Making Music! There have been times of great joy, seeing you and your children together, singing, dancing, making hearts, waving, and blowing kisses at the end of each class.  

I truly can not imagine what the world would be like if all the music stopped. I am grateful for food, clothing and shelter, for my family, friends, clergy, and hope that each of you have a support system that you are able to reach out to and that reaches out to you.  

There have also been days, hours, minutes, and moments when I have been terrified about this world, about the future, about the young, the old, and all people around the globe. 

Those of us with children in our daily lives, or who have children we love dearly, are extremely fortunate to have that grounding focus. We may be exhausted and yet for me, children are the greatest motivation to keep making this world a better place, while giving them all the music, stimuli, and love that they need to thrive. Thank you. ~Wendy