First day of Family Time class!

I just want to write a few words about how much fun I had in Family Time class today! This was the first time I've taught this class and I can tell already that I am going to LOVE it! A unique aspect of Family Time classes is that the class uses a "One Room Schoolhouse" type of approach with children from newborn-7 years old. The older children model for the little ones so the big kids gain confidence as "leaders" while the younger kids get the benefit of learning from their older friends and siblings!

I also love how the class gives the families the opportunity to bond, not only between parent and child, but between siblings. It's really fun to watch how the siblings interact with each other...sharing toys, getting instruments for their brothers and sisters, giving hugs...usually very sweet!

I also loved hearing a room full of little voices singing songs that they only just learned today and I can't wait to hear the music we'll make in a few weeks when the kids are even more familiar with the songs!

Our lion puppet, Rex was also a big hit! I enjoyed watching the kids respond to my (pretty lowsy!) imitation of a lion voice when Rex joined the class and seeing the excitement when everyone got their Home Materials with a Rex puppet of their own!

I can't wait until next week for week 2 of Family Time!

A few really cute thoughts about being a mom!

Thanks Amanda for sending this to me!

Before I was a Mom

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Some links of interest!

I can't believe it's still 2 weeks until classes for the spring semester begin and already my classes are almost filled! In fact, I even needed to open up another class! This is very exciting for me, since it has been a personal goal of mine to share music with as many children as possible!

If you are interested in Kindermusik classes this coming semester, and have not yet enrolled, let me know as soon as possible through email at littlevoicesnh@hotmail.com or call me at (603) 552-5281. Also, check out my website at http://www.littlevoicesnh.kindermusik.net/ !

I'm also SO excited to be offering my classes at NiNi Bambini in Bedford! It is SUCH a beautiful and nurturing center with so many wonderful positive experiences to offer to mothers (and fathers) of young children! The center will be offering a full line of unique products, wellness services and classes (besides Kindermusik!) including hypnobirthing, infant massage, baby sign language, parenting classes, prenatal and post natal yoga, and Itsy Bitsy Yoga. I'm sure Kaden and I will be spending a lot of time there (even besides class time!). Check out NiNi Bambini's website at http://www.ninibambini.com/ (coming soon!)

One class that we're certainly going to continue with at NiNi Bambini is Itsy Bitsy Yoga with Miss Miriam! Kaden and I have been in Itsy Bitsy Yoga since he was 6 weeks old and I can't tell you how much we look forward to her classes every Tuesday! Kaden loves doing yoga poses at home all day long! He does down dog, kicky cobra and warrior pose all day long and it's SO cute! Besides teaching Kaden additional ways to show off his cuteness, Kaden has been benefitting from Itsy Bitsy Yoga because it has helped him to keep his body strong and flexible, it nurtures our mother child bond, it has allowed him to make tons of new friends, and it gives Mom a chance to get pampered! For more information about Itsy Bitsy Yoga with Miss Miriam (who offers a full schedule of classes at various locations) check out http://www.peacefulkidsyoga.com/

I'm also happy to be offering Family Time classes at Local Motion Fun and Fitness for Preschoolers in Derry! This center is a fantastic place for Kindermusik classes and in addition, offers a number of different preschool fitness classes. This is another place that Kaden loves to play! There are all kinds of slides, balance beams, trampolines, see-saws, etc. for the kiddos to help them grow big and strong while having fun! To see more information about classes at Local Motion, check out their website at http://www.localmotionfun.com/

Top Twenty-five reasons why I LOVE my job as a Kindermusik educator...

This list was originally the Top 10 reasons, but I just HAD to expand it-then I expanded it again!!!

25. Being able to integrate the experiences that I have had as a pediatric physical therapist with my passion for music while playing all day long with ADORABLE children...and calling it a job!

24. Meeting so many wonderful, dedicated parents who appreciate the roll that music can play throughout their child's life- and calling them my friends!

23. Watching a little baby who was just hanging out in her big sister's class, dancing in her carseat to the music!

22. Getting a card from a preschooler that says "I love you and I love music class!"

21. Seeing a little monkey fall asleep with his head in his mother's lap after a class filled with excitement and fun!

20. Watching little ones spring into action when the "Clean Up" song starts and hearing moms wonder aloud..."Why won't he clean up like that at home???"

19. Watching everybody's face light up when we sing the first notes of our "Hello Song"!

18. Seeing the pride of a little one who is showing off a new skill for the first time in front of his friends!

17. Seeing a room full of little eyes on me when it's time for "1,2,3...lights off!"

16. Watching the Mommies as they cuddle with their babies during rocking time, (like there's nobody else in the room but the two of them)...

15. Learning valuable lessons about being a mom from the experiences of other mothers...

14. Cleaning up the goldfish cracker crumbs smooshed into the carpet after a big party and thinking...wow! Everyone really did have a good time!

13. Thinking how incredibly cute all of our little frogs, dinosaurs, ducks, flamingos and kangaroos (and so many more!) looked at Halloween, and then giggling to think about how much our kids are going to hate us when we show these pictures to their first girlfriends/boyfriends!

12. Hearing great big belly laughs from little bitty people as they dance in their Mommy's arms!

11. Seeing my toddler walk up to me at home with a book in his hands and knowing without looking that it is either the "Boom Pa Pa" or "Hickory Dickory" books- his FAVORITES!

10. Seeing a toddler clap in delight for himself after he has successfully named every one of his friends in class!

9. Watching a baby stand up for the FIRST time, all by herself- and then get a round of applause for a job well done from a room full of friends!

8. Seeing a room full of little hands waving "bye-bye" at the end of class!

7. Seeing looks of wonder as I open my purple suitcase...(what could be inside???)

6. Hearing stories about children bursting out into choruses of "Ram Sam Sam" or "La La" at home (even the quiet ones in class!)

5. Riding in the car with a cranky toddler who immediately calms when he hears the first note of "Let's sing hello, hello"!

4. Hearing little voices singing along to the music of songs they have grown to love!

3. Listening to stories of Mom's who need to share a laugh, to vent frustration, to ask a question, or to just be reassured that they are doing a GREAT job in this adventure we call motherhood!

2. Hearing a little one's voice say my name, "Miss Be-hee" AND

1. Watching tiny children, just learning to move, to vocalize, to interact with their world, blossom into walking (running!), talking (singing!), social butterflies over the course of a few months!

I love my job! Thank you for making this all possible!

Thank you to all my Kinder-kids and Kinder-moms!

with Miss Bethay

For my very first blog on the new Blogspot, I would like to take a few moments to let you all know how deeply grateful I am to all of the parents and children who have touched my life in Kindermuisik classes over the past 3 semesters! I can't tell you enough how lucky I feel to have been given the opportunity to share music with such a wonderful group of people. I never dreamed that I would love teaching Kindermusik classes as much as I do, and I realize that the main reason that I love to teach so much is because of my students and their parents. I look forward to Kindermusik days every week to see a room full of tiny smiling faces and it warms my heart to think that you all have given me the opportunity to share this experience with you and your child.

Thank you all!