First days of school each year were exciting (and terrifying) for me. I can remember, even in the earliest grades, looking in the mirror and saying, "This is the year I'm going to be liked. This is the year I'll fit in. This is the year I'll be the person that people wanna hang out with...". And every year, after the first day of school, I thought, "I bet next year will be my year." That said, there was something even more pressing on my mind in kindergarten and first grade...
I was the baby in a family filled with love and kindness. I do not remember my mother EVEN ONCE raising her voice at us. I had never even heard a raised voice, until I went to school. The nuns at my first elementary school in Stillwater, Oklahoma were loud-speaking, easily exasperated women. At least my first grade teacher was. My mother recalled that Sister whatever-her-name-was scheduled an appointment with her, complaining that I would shake like a leaf every time she came near me. I constantly complained of a sore throat (brought on my tension and nerves) and the doctor finally gave me a placebo to take every day, that my mom had to bring to school at lunch, to get me to stay for the whole day. WOW, RIGHT? I was terrified of that nun, and the world outside of my home!
But what if I had been a PRESCHOOLER? Granted, not all children are as protected as I was in my little world as a child. That said, I've worked as a preschool musician at Baton Rouge early learning centers for the better part of eleven years, and I can tell you that some kids just have a hard time letting go of mom and dad...and some moms and dads have an even harder time letting go of their little ones.
I wrote this song, "Time to Play", about separation anxiety, from a different perspective. Please watch this PRECIOUS video song, filmed, edited and produced by Daniel Lee of Boonelight Productions. In case you're wondering, that is the producer himself on lead guitar and pizza box percussion! Another special thank you to the children, teachers and parents of the Child Development Cooperative in Baton Rouge, LA, for starring in my lil video song. Please pass this on to parents, grandparents, teachers...just pass it on to everybody, because it's really precious (I know I already said that) and it will make your day...Here's the link!
Wishing all of you a great rest-of-summer and an easy back-to-school transition for kids and parents alike! Until next blog, peace and love to you...dorothy
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