To my child

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I will not worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening, when I run my fingers thru your hair, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever. I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, and the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little bit tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.

Music and The Human Experience

Music & the Human Experience Music is found in every culture worldwide. It's our constant companion, from birth through childhood, love, marriage and death. It has a starring role on every stage of the great human drama - whether we are at war or at prayer, by ourselves or with others, happy or sad - music is there. But does it really have a purpose? Where does it come from? And why does it have such power over our hearts and minds? Taking a look at the How and Why of music, the team that brought you the Peabody-Award winning series The Wire: the Impact of Electricity on Music brings you a new six-part series, The Nerve: Music & the Human Experience.



The Nerve will be broadcast on Inside the Music starting on September 6: Saturdays at 12 PM (1:00 AT, 1:30 NT) on Radio 2 & Sundays at 8 PM (9:00 AT, 9:30 NT) on Radio 1(NOTE: Episodes will be available online the following Monday or Tuesday after broadcast on the Episode's page)



Episode 1: Wired for Sound (Music & the Brain)



September 6 & 7Episode 2: In the Key of DNA (Music & Evolution)



September 13 & 14 Episode 3: The Pipe, the Drum and the Thunder Run (Music & War)



September 20 & 21Episode 4: Enchanted, Entranced (Music & Spirituality)



September 27 & 28Episode 5: myTunes (Music & Identity)



October 4 & 5Epsiode 6: Sentimental Journey (Music & Emotion)October 11 & 12




The Nerve is: Jowi Taylor: Host/Producer, Paolo Pietropaolo: Producer, Chris Brookes: Producer, Ian Cauthery: Web Producer

Music and The Human Experience

Music & the Human Experience Music is found in every culture worldwide. It's our constant companion, from birth through childhood, love, marriage and death. It has a starring role on every stage of the great human drama - whether we are at war or at prayer, by ourselves or with others, happy or sad - music is there. But does it really have a purpose? Where does it come from? And why does it have such power over our hearts and minds? Taking a look at the How and Why of music, the team that brought you the Peabody-Award winning series The Wire: the Impact of Electricity on Music brings you a new six-part series, The Nerve: Music & the Human Experience.

The Nerve will be broadcast on Inside the Music starting on September 6: Saturdays at 12 PM (1:00 AT, 1:30 NT) on Radio 2 & Sundays at 8 PM (9:00 AT, 9:30 NT) on Radio 1(NOTE: Episodes will be available online the following Monday or Tuesday after broadcast on the Episode's page)

Episode 1: Wired for Sound (Music & the Brain)

September 6 & 7Episode 2: In the Key of DNA (Music & Evolution)

September 13 & 14 Episode 3: The Pipe, the Drum and the Thunder Run (Music & War)

September 20 & 21Episode 4: Enchanted, Entranced (Music & Spirituality)

September 27 & 28Episode 5: myTunes (Music & Identity)

October 4 & 5Epsiode 6: Sentimental Journey (Music & Emotion)October 11 & 12


The Nerve is: Jowi Taylor: Host/Producer, Paolo Pietropaolo: Producer, Chris Brookes: Producer, Ian Cauthery: Web Producer

ClimbingJumpingRunningMoving....It's your Toddler!

They're moving. They're climbing. They're wonderful! I'm talking about toddlers. It's a misnomer, because "toddling" is NOT what they do! Looking for a fantastic class where your toddler can express himself/herself to their fullest? Look no further! It's Kindermusik Our Time!

Fall Sale! Chelmsford Mothers' Club

GENTLY USED CHILDREN'S CLOTHING, TOYS & GEAR SALE Need a stroller? Children's clothes (size 0-6)? Books & movies? Children's furniture? Toys & games? Nursery items? Halloween Costumes? Winter coats or boots?

You can't afford to miss the CMC Fall Sale!

Saturday, September 27th, 20089:00 AM to 12:00 noonGrace Community Church 275 Billerica Road (Route 129), Chelmsford (next to Knowledge Beginnings)Admission $1 per adultCash/ Mastercard/ Visa accepted*


* The CMC will accept credit cards for payment on purchases over $25. Please note due to space, only umbrella strollers will be allowed on the sale floor.For more information, email us at sale@chelmsfordmothersclub.org All CMC profits will be donated to Lowell Wish Project.
Chelmsford Mothers Club is a non-profit organization for mothers with young children.

www.chelmsfordmothersclub.org

The Empty Nest

My daughter is in Kindergarten. She's there from 9:30-3:30 every day. She loves her school and I do, too. We walk to school almost every day, and she has so many great stories to tell. Some of my mom-friends have said, "Isn't that a long time for her? Isn't it a long time for you, too?"

No and again, no.

I have invested 5 years thus far of playing, nurturing, loving, and laughing with my child. I have given and received countless blessings along the way. I have been peed on, spit up on, pooped on, cried on, bled on. I have been tickled till I'm blue, kissed till I was wet with kisses, and we have fallen asleep in each others arms. Bliss.

On the flip side, I haven't read a book that doesn't have to do with parenting in 5 years. I have gained about 30 pounds that won't come off no matter how much I jump and dance around with my Kindermusik kids every day. And I haven't had a quiet house, ever. Not for more than 10 minutes at a time. You see, 10 minutes isn't enough. An hour isn't enough. But 2-3 hours? Yeah, THAT's what I'm talking about. I can take a walk and do laundry and take care of the dishes and maybe put some pictures in a photograph album. I can call someone without interruptions, do my checkbook, and maybe get my eyebrows done. I can listen to 80's rock in the car at annoyingly high decibels and not worry about puncturing little eardrums. I can reclaim a little bit of sanity in the 2-3 hours ( of course the rest of the time is KINDERMUSIK...hel-lo!) of my day

Oh my goodness! Where have I been all this time? What happened to ME? From day one at the hospital where she was little and plump and new, to yesterday when she was playing with her sticker dolly book, I morphed into Mommy. Not Bernadette. Mommy. It's a role that I have grown to love, but in the meantime, there's a woman-beast that's churning and gurgling...saying.."I want.....to....be......FREEEEEE......." AAAAAAGHHHHH! I want to take on-line courses. I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle ( yes, I do!!). I want to call a friend and go out for coffee. I want to teach MORE classes. I want to do all of the things that make me, me besides being a great mommy. And now I can do that.

It is so important to have time for yourself. We do not have family that lives locally, so time spent apart from my child was expensive. If you have the capability to maintain even the smallest part of non-momminess, then embrace it with relish and live life to the fullest. Never lose your complete identity in mommyhood. It's only PART ofwho you are. A big part, but only a part.

I'm off to take a nice long walk. Alone.

Aahhhhhhhh.

Fun to Share

I've met so many wonderful people on both my life and Kindermusik journey. Keeping in touch with people has always been difficult for me, especially since Katy was born. Enter the technology of the 21st century. I can send pictures to Grammie and Grampie via computer. I can post a video online to share with friends and family. I've recently joined Facebook and discovered that in minutes, I can share with many friends at once. ( I can even play a Scrabble game with friends who live 20 miles away!) It's amazing!

One of the things I've recently discovered is that I'm not alone in my enthusiasm to share with others. Parents want to share their children's pictures and stories with me, too. And that makes me so happy. As a teacher, I love nothing more than hearing what your kids are up to, how they are growing, what makes them happy. Being a teacher is like being a mom with a million fringe benefits.

Here is a blog link from a friend. Last week I did a Music and More program at the Wilmington Library. What a great program! About 30 children and their parents ( for a total of 60!!) attended.

http://mommyniri.blogspot.com/2008/07/sing-song-friday.html

If you want to share your stories with your friends and people who have similar interests, consider the 'blog'. ( No, not the Borg, the BLOG- little Trek inside joke there) Blogger provides a very easy format for writing your stories and posting pictures and links. Don't think you can blog? Neither did I. Give it a try- you never know what hidden talents you posess!