Pure joy!

When I think of joy and what that means, particularly during this time of year, I think of the eyes of so many of my Kindermusik kids!  The faces I see each week, and the delight I see in their eyes from such simple things.  That to me is true joy.  It's just that simple.

And this little guy, well he is the epitome of true joy.  He has stolen my heart, and I am blessed to have rocked with him many times this semester.  Thank you little one.

Why Kindermusik? My story.

I am often asked how I got involved in Kindermusik, and I share the short answer:  that I signed up for a class when my daughter was six months old and loved it.  But truly, there is more to it than that.  Here is my story.

I grew up in a family of musicians; attending  recitals and concerts, camping out under my mom or dad’s grand pianos when I was sick, ushering at concerts, and participating in choirs and instrument lessons.  I have fond memories of family gatherings, singing together, always praying before meals by singing the Doxology, and my parents often breaking out into song at home.

Fast forward many years, to my first week as a new parent.  Arriving home from the hospital with our daughter Kathryn, I was overwhelmed with a fussy baby.  My parents had travelled the 9 hours to North Carolina to spend the first week with us.  I still remember my mom saying “Try singing to her.  Singing often helps calm a fussy baby.”  I sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the first song I could think of.  It worked.  When my parents left, I missed them greatly.  I recall missing my family more those first six months of Kathryn’s life than ever.  And then I found Kindermusik.

Kindermusik was truly like a taste of life with my family.  The activities and songs were things I had grown up with throughout my childhood.  The approach to early childhood development felt second nature to me.  I discovered a family away from home with Kindermusik.  It was the next best thing to having my parents with me as Phil and I raised our children.

Today, I am delighted to continue to share this with so many families each and every week.  I am privileged to share some of my “family” with each of you.  My parents have been very supportive throughout my journey as Kindermusik educator and program owner, even having me come demonstrate for their college music students at times in classes.  What an honor and joy!

Things I learned from Kindermusik classes 11 years ago still play a part in the parent I have become.  My family thrives on routine; we still sing the same 3 songs at bedtime (Mommy Loves, Daddy Loves, from Kindermusik, Twinkle Twinkle, and Jesus Loves Me). My family breaks into song regularly for no apparent reason.  My children love to dance and move and read and have developed a true love of music!

My life has been greatly enriched by my Kindermusik family.  Each child that has come into the classroom is part of my family.  Grandparents and parents and nannies are part of my family. The network of supportive Kindermusik educators worldwide are part of my family. Thank you for helping my family grow and grow and grow, and for listening to my story!

I'm back

Well, after over a year of no blogging, I am back.

I have made it a resolution, to start sharing things again on my blog, mainly for my Kindermusik families. I hope it will be applicable to many of you along the way, in your parenting endeavors.

Best wishes. Can't wait for all the exciting classes that are starting in January for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and families in Latrobe, Sarver and Tarentum.

Christa

Latrobe Toddler Music Free Class

Come try out a free class for infants, toddlers and preschoolers at our new location in Latrobe.

Thursday, September 9 at 10:30 am, we are offering a free Kindermusik class at Latrobe Presbyterian Church, 428 Main Street, Latrobe PA. There is ample free parking right at the church, with an easily accessible classroom located just past the main office.

To register for the free class, call 724.226.8774 or email ccmhbeck@juno.com

Limited space - register now!

Now it's time for music!

Join us for baby classes (Kindermusik Village), toddler music classes (Kindermusik Our Time) and preschool Imagine That drop off classes. We also offer Family Time for your whole family to come to a class together. We play, dance, laugh, sing, jump, run, twirl and fly together and much much more each week for 45 minutes!

Come try a free class. Check out our schedule at:
www.kindermusikwithchrista.com or simply call 724.226.8774

Parenting Politics

Anytime you get a group of moms together, the topic will eventually turn to children and parenting. You'll begin to hear questions like: When did your child stop using a pacifier? What kind of music do you allow your child to listen to? Do you believe in spanking your child? Do you co-sleep or make them stay in their own bed?

It can be tricky to succesfully navigate the waters of parenting politics without offending someone. There are so many different ideas out there about what is best for a child, and deciding which of these ideas will work best for your family is a personal decision. So what do you do when you find yourself in the middle of this type of conversation? Here are a few ideas:

• Recognize that there will be differences in parenting styles among your friends, and that it's okay
• Agree to disagree (sometimes a parent has a really good reason for their choice that others might not understand)
• Don't be afraid to say if a topic makes you uncomfortable or is too personal to discuss.
• If your child questions why others are allowed to do something and they are not, use it as a teachable moment. Each family has to find what works for them, and different doesn't always mean it's wrong.

What ways have you found to deal with parenting politics?

Baby Toddler Music Classes in Latrobe

Exciting news from Kindermusik with Christa. We are officially opening a new location in beautiful downtown Latrobe, PA for fall 2010 classes. Classes meet at Latrobe Presbyterian Church on Wednesdays and Thursdays for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. For more information, visit www.kindermusikwithchrista.com or call 724.226.8774.