Archive for the 'Moms’ Group' Category

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Soft

Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in Claire, Milestones, Moms' Group and Parenting 101. 1 Comment

Sunny breezes tousle our hair
Outside playing in the park
Friends running, laughing, sharing
The perfect afternoon.

Claire and I met some other moms and kids at a local park yesterday for a playdate. The weather was gorgeous – low 80s, sunny with a nice breeze. Today, the weather department is predicting a snowstorm, but yesterday was perfect. There was a softness about the day that still lingers.

I’m clinging to that feeling, realizing that even if the snow comes today, its days are numbered.

The moms I met were all different and yet we all clicked. The kids were the perfect ages and dispositions to play together. Claire, though hesitant at first, figured out how to go down the big slide all by herself, with the help of her new friends. I could see her playing with the other kids from where I was sitting. Little Miss Independent would still look over to see me every once in a while and wave.

Roots and wings.
She’s starting to form both.

Moms relaxing, chatting, keeping a watchful yet casual eye. Kids running, laughing, playing.

Knowing we’ll be able to do this many times again is such a great feeling.

Cuz I’m the King of Bongo, Baby

Published on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 in Claire, Fun, Moms' Group and Music. 2 Comments

Claire and I went to a Music Class today! It was hosted by our local MOMS Club, and it was part of the Meet & Greet they have once a month. This was an opportunity for us to check out this group before we join.

From what I saw today, we’ll be joining! You never know what you’re going to get with groups like this, and all the women I met today seem really nice. Claire got along fabulously with the other kids, so I think we’ll give it a shot.

There is a small annual fee to join the club, and it covers the cost of snacks, mailings, etc. To be honest, the cost of the yearly fee would have more than covered the cost of a real Music Class and snack, so I think we’ll be getting our money’s worth! (Now that I have time, I wanted to do different activities with Claire. Rather than get tied down to the schedule of a particular class, I decided to look into something like this MOMS Club, because the cost is minimal and the activities are varied and all in our area. Perfect!)

So, the Meet & Greet was great, but the Music Class was awesome! The woman who led the kids was very well suited for this, and so talented. (She runs her own Music Therapy business and provides music classes for all kinds of groups or individuals.) I thought it was great that Claire got to experience someone playing the guitar, bongos and violin for real. (As opposed to the guitar and drum-set we have for Rock Band…though fun, is not quite the same. And, Daddy has been trying to convince me to let him buy his own bongo set, so once he hears how much fun Claire had, I’m sure he’ll kick his “but it will really be for Claire” excuse into high gear!) ;)

The woman started the Music Class out with a scarf dance that we all preformed to King of the Bongo by Manu Chao. I’d never heard this song, and I loved it! I did a search on youtube, and apparently I’ve been living under a bongo-less rock, because there are a lot of versions out there!

Here is a link to the one from Robbie Williams:

Link to youtube

Here are some of the lyrics:

Momma was queen of the mambo
Papa was king of the Congo
Deep down in the jungle
I start’d bangin’ my first bongo

Every monkey’d like to be
In my place instead of me
Cause I’m the king of bongo, baby
I’m the king of bongo bong

This Momma would love to be Queen of the Mambo, and both Claire and I rocked the scarf dance.

Needless to say, the Music Class was a success. We sang songs, danced some more and then the kids got to choose an instrument out of a plastic tub and we became a band. For every song we sang, the kids chose a different instrument, and it was so much fun! (Claire’s favorite was the drum…Daddy will be thrilled!)

When the Music Class was over, the kids played some more in the playroom while the moms chatted. When it was time to go, Claire wanted to stay forever, which is a sure sign that she had a good time.

Now, the song and the lyrics I’ve copied and pasted above are stuck in my head. I start humming it and Claire sings along, “Cuz I’m the King-go Bongo, Baby! I’m the King-go Bongo!”

…and we dance.