The Lonely Mom (Dad/Grandparent) Club

I belong to a not-so-elite club: The Lonely Mom Club. You know the one, where to be a member you need to be a stay-at-home parent/caregiver with young children who longs for the real outside world and tries to ignore the nagging feeling to scream the fifteenth time your toddler peed his pants today. 

To be in the Lonely Mom Club you don't have to be a mother, you can be a stay-at-home dad or even a grandparent. But what we all have in common is that day-in and day-out we care, love, clothe, bathe, and nurture young ones. 

Maybe you signed up for the Lonely Mom Club, like I did, not realizing how long 8 hours can be with a preschooler (especially if you, like me, try to avoid filling those hours with TV and video games and don't have transportation or a support network). Or maybe life threw you a couple of little ones unexpectedly and the other parent is not in the picture anymore. Maybe your adult kids, strapped for cash and working like dogs in today's economic depression, have left you with a couple of grandkids running around when you thought you would be sipping margaritas and living it up in your golden years. Or maybe you watch your nieces or are one of those brave souls that take in foster children, knowing that someday the children you love today can be literally gone tomorrow. 

The minutes stretch into hours, and hours into literally a millennium.  

You look at the clock, wishing you could cherish every single moment like the sappy movies tell you to or every parenting book assumes you can, when in reality you sometimes wonder what it would be like if the bathroom could teleport you just for 15 minutes to a sandy beach in Hawaii, where you can refresh your tired soul and then return energetic and ready to engage in the latest "But I can't put my socks on today! mommy-mommy-MOMMY!" 

And as my daughter literally 30 seconds ago brought me a pair of pink sandals so she could match Mommy (who in Floridian stubbornness wears sandals with socks instead of boots every winter) I realize that the truth is that even when I'm tired, exhausted, with zero in the gas tank, I have a child that needs me, loves me, and for some reason, wants to be like me. 

These children are precious, and you are precious for giving them the love and care that they need to make it through this insane world. So maybe you can't go out with your non-parent friends today or enjoy a romantic getaway because babysitting costs are prohibitive. Maybe your golden years are full of diapers and not daiquiris, or you're a stay-at-home dad that knows more about fabric softeners than last night's football game. But it doesn't matter...

In the end, what your kids are going to remember is that you were there to hug them, wipe away their tears, and give them what no nanny service, daycare, or television program can give: LOVE. 

Thanks for visiting Mami Mozart! I would love to hear about your thoughts. Share this blog with your friends and share your thoughts in the comments.  
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Sabrina Pena Young is a stay-at-home mom and professional composer/writer. She enjoys long walks on the beach, chocolate, and painting her daughter's toenails.

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Fun Music Sites for the Special Needs Child

Image via WikipediaHola Everyone,

The summer comes closer, and the school year will soon end. Now is the time for playing in the park, picnics, and vacation. Enjoy spending time with loved ones and with the little ones.

I have been pretty busy lately writing online. Check out some of these great articles about music and kids! Enjoy!

Add Music to Your Child's Life

A personal insight into how I add music to my toddler's life at Play On Education's site.

Music & Life: The Special Needs Child and Technology

Children with special needs benefit greatly from the arts. Read the article to find out about some valuable tools for the home or classroom.

Music & Life: Singing and Childhood

Does singing really matter? What is your child learning when he or she makes up a silly tune? Find out more.

And if you want to find out a little bit more about some of my latest projects, I recently updated my official website. I am currently working on an opera, a film score, and an hourlong video piece for the Athena Mix (a one hour electronic music concert by talented women from around the world!)

Thank you for checking out the Mami Mozart website!

Besos!

Mamí Mozart

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Baby's First Birthday Mami Musings

Image via WikipediaHola Everyone,

One year ago, I was in the hospital, watching my baby's hear rate in the monitor and some late night TV, unable to sleep, waiting for the contractions to start. I can't believe it has already been one year. I have been emotional, up and down and up and down again. One year! Everyone said the time would fly so fast, so very fast, and it has. She walks around now, loves to say "Hi!" to everyone, has suddenly entered a picky stage, and finally has a little bit of auburn hair on her head. She looks like my husband still, but she has my eyes (oh, and my temper!).

Put on some dance music (techno, salsa, or even celtic) and she starts bopping up and down. If she is sitting on the floor, she does a weird little baby butt dance. It's cute, and pretty much looks like her attempting to lift her diaper in the air repeatedly. (You have to see it). She loves playing the drums and can hold a drumstick properly (its in the blood!). Her Nana and Abuelo just sent her a package with wooden spoons, a cowbell, and a couple of metal pots to drum on. I still don't know if my mom is attempting to enact long distance revenge on my ear drums! (haha)

Her Grammy in New York sent her a storybook, with Grammy's voice reading the text. Uncle Al, soon to go to Iraq, and Aunt Gretchen sent her a sweet little Elephant. She gets birthday packages every day. So much fun for mommy, too!

Today was preparing for the birthday party day. I went to my friend's house so she and I could make the sporty cupcakes (cute little basketballs, soccer balls, and baseballs). I finished the piñata, strings and candy and frills and all, with both babies' names on the side. My husband stayed up late making the baby birthday cakes, those cute little birthday cakes for them to dig into all by themselves. Mmm. So good, chocolate and looking like little basketballs.

So much fun!

If you have a sweet child in your life, cherish each and every moment. Hug them instead of getting mad at them. Turn that TV off and read them a book instead. Keep them with you every chance you get. There is only so much time before school and romance and work and college and work will separate you from your little one. Academics, sports, clubs, adult life can all wait. We let our kids grow too fast in this country. Kindergartners acting like teens, teens acting like adults, adults acting like kids. So backwards and hurting us all. So love your little baby, whether he or she is three or thirty. Cherish your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren. Hug your little nieces and nephews. Smile and let their happiness warm your heart.

Happy birthday, my little sweet baby. You are sleeping now, just as you were sleeping then in mommy's womb. And just like then, I was watching and loving and praying. Happy birthday little girl, my little princess, mi princesa.

Besitos mi vida,

Mamí

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Halloween Birthday Coming up!

Image via WikipediaHola Everyone!

It's fall! And although I am a South Florida chica at heart, I am loving the cooler weather and playing outside with my baby girl. Her first birthday is coming up! She is a Halloween baby! We are going to have so much fun next Sunday. I am making a piñata (the one with the strings) and filling it with all kinds of goodies. It is a sports theme birthday (her daddy, after all, is a university coach), and we are having a joint birthday party with my prego pal (who had her baby the day before mine was born!).

So exciting! It is amazing how fast one year goes! I can't believe it. Now she is walking (practically running). She has such a personality. She is loud and stubborn like mommy, strong like daddy, and loves to play drums! They say it goes fast, and it sure does! (Though I was eager for those first few months to pass.)

Well, waiting to go to church this morning. Usually I play the congas at church, but not this morning. Hubby is sleeping (he was nice enough to get her this morning when she woke up at 6:30).

Smiles and sunshine (and cool fall weather) to everyone!

Mamí Mozart

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Halloween and Birthdays!

Hello Everyone!

Starting this year, Halloween is going to be a special event: Baby's birthday!

This was me dancing to Thriller last year shortly after the passing of Michael Jackson. I was about six months pregnant with my baby girl. Had a blast making this Michael Jackson Thriller prego tribute!

We are getting ready to celebrate her birthday this Halloween. Daddy is a coach, so we are having a sports themed birthday party at church Halloween afternoon. Everyone will dress up in their favorite sports teams (although one of my friends might dress up as a lacrosse player).

Exciting times! Birthdays and Halloween!

Smiles,

Mamí Mozart

Writing music into the night & tired of it

Image by .Live.Your.Life. via FlickrHello Everyone,

I have been very busy writing music and writing articles on music, and teaching music. Music. Music. Music. And more Music! All in one night I have taught two online music history courses, composed an intro for an upcoming album, and completed jazz curriculum for a client on the West Coast. Busy. Busy. Busy.

I wish I was not so busy. My baby girl's first birthday is coming up soon and I cannot believe that the first year is over already! It makes me sad inside. I don't know. The first three months were very, very hard. I felt so very alone, even though my church friends visited often and brought me dinner and even cleaned my bathroom (thanks C.J.!) My mom-in-law did visit for a week, which did help immensely. My own parents have not seen her, yet. We hope to drive down to S. Florida in the spring to see them.

Soon she won't want to drink a bottle, soon she will be too big to cradle and cuddle in my arms, soon she will be talking up a storm and the baby babbles will disappear like dust. I hope that I have been the mom that she has needed. I hope that I have been the wife my husband needs. I feel like I am pulled from all directions. I can't do everything, but I try, I try so hard...to be a good mom, a good wife, a good teacher, a good musician...and I feel so many times like I am just failing at everything.

Every night I work till midnight. Its the only time I can concentrate on my work without entirely neglecting my family (and yes, I guess I neglect myself). It's not that I do not enjoy music. I love it! I just envisioned that when I got married and had my first baby that I would take care of her and write my music during my free time. Now I take care of her, teach online courses in my free time, attempt to be a wife, and work more into the late hours of the night. I am always tired. Always exhausted. Not very happy, to be honest.

Maybe I shouldn't be complaining. I really shouldn't. Things could be so much worse. I know single moms who never see their children, parents that have to scrounge just to make ends meet, and so many people without a job. I know I should be thankful for work. Hey, we are breaking even this month (almost)! That is something to celebrate, but when can I be a mom, just be a mom? When will I be a wife, and not have to be a teacher and writer and composer...not that I mind, but not all at the same time, and not 30 hours a week every week.

Sorry so sad tonight. Didn't mean to unload. Why is it easier to talk to cyberspace than a real person? Dunno.

Going to bed...I think...

Night,

Mamí Mozart

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Baby Growing up

Image via WikipediaHello Everyone,

My baby girl is slowly growing up. She "runs" around everywhere, teeth are coming in, and she finally started feeding herself Cheerios. Yesterday my friend asked me how I was feeling since baby's first birthday is around the corner. I suppose the feelings are mixed. My friends and family, everyone, said that the baby stage is a short one and that I should enjoy every minute. It would be so short.

Now she has begun to toddle (granted she started early before 9 months even). She still talks in baby babble, but now she hates drinking from a bottle (and she stopped nursing months ago). She still looks cute in onesies, but she was too grown up to sit in my lap during music class this week.

I am glad that she is independent, or as independent as babies can be. She is pretty fearless like her papa and like her mommy tries to be. She welcomes new challenges and is excited to meet new people. She loves to cuddle, but on her own terms. She is stubborn but has a sweet, sweet spirit. She loves to laugh and smile. My baby girl might have her daddy's eyebrows and physique, but she has her mommy's big brown eyes and heart.

Baby is growing up. And mommy is growing up, too. Cherish your little one and hold her tight. The seconds are fleeting and soon she will be grown.

Smiles,
Mamí Mozart

The Perfect Labor Day Weekend

Image via WikipediaHola Everyone,

Labor Day weekend was simple but wonderful. On Saturday we went to Toys R Us and bought baby a new car seat. She is so small in it still! She loved facing forward and making faces with us in the mirror (one second...baby has decided that she wants to run around with a contract she found under my computer desk....).

Sunday was church, of course, and baby decided that she is much to big to just sit during service. She ran around the back church area, nearly escaped down the aisle several times, and even found a ball to toss. Needless to say, I had to take her to the nursery before the sermon started. Sunday I didn't play congas in the praise band and was looking forward to simply sitting with my hubby. Well, I spent the time watching baby run around and play (and avoid her morning nap until fifteen minutes before church ended).

On Labor Day, hubby had to work some with the Murray State University basketball team and tennis team. We still had time for a mini-cookout. Hubby made some burgers, I took the inflatable pool to the grassy area behind our apartment, and we enjoyed a picnic (even if I messed up Abuela's nearly perfect chicken salad recipe).

We had such a lovely day. I was happy to take a day off (nearly) and he was too (nearly) and we enjoyed each others company and the baby's company, as well. Simple but fun. And I couldn't have asked for a more perfect holiday weekend.

:-)

Mami Mozart

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