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April 2006
Music, From Heart to Home
While Blowing Kisses
Mrs. Donna - North Canton
 A WeJoySing parent and friend of mine said, "WeJoySing children stand out in a crowd..." Her observations of library story hour, church, and play groups, revealed that during WeJoySing, children focus upon, participate in, and contribute their own creativity to activities. "There’s just something about WeJoySing children...."
We agree! WeJoySing is one big family made up of parents striving for similar goals: bonding with our children, parenting positively, bringing out the JOYS of childhood...all through music and creativity.
Over the next few months, WeJoySing teachers and parents will share some of their favorite true WeJoySing stories. On the heels of our music therapy series, the following journal entry reminds me of the high calling we have as parents and teachers...and the joy of the journey. It’s a fitting start to our new series:
"Music, From Heart To Home."
Here comes Joey! It’s his second week of class. Although he’s four, his speech is choppy and disjointed. I wonder... speech delay? partial hearing loss? another diagnosis? But today, as the children echoed my words into the plastic microphone, Joey SANG! Though indecipherable, he "repeated" my every word. Celebrating his participation, I used Joey’s name frequently throughout the class as I assessed his development and delighted in getting to know him better.
Later, walking to my car, I began to assess myself: did I "stumble" too many times? I completely skipped one activity and hadn’t realized it until the end. Had the parents noticed? Were they thinking: she’s had better days!
Joey’s mother gently pulled me out of this "land of self assessment," as she drove up beside me. Rolling her window down, she said, "Thank you for this class. It's so good to have Joey participating in HeartStrings. He enjoys it so much."
 As her eyes filled with tears, she shared. "Joey has a speech delay. I told his therapist last week that this is the first thing he’s responded to. Today, he sang into the microphone!" Urgently she continued. "He participates. He smiles. I haven't been able to get him into a preschool, but this is helping so much!" Then she blessed me with words I’ll not soon forget: "Thank you for making us a part of the class. You make us feel important."
Humbled, I could barely move. I didn’t know what to say. I thought I would crumple in a heap and cry. But, God graciously gave me the words I needed: "Of course you are important!" I leaned into the car and blew a kiss to Joey in the back seat.
Joey’s fluent response: "You blow kisses?"
Mommy chimed in: "Mrs. Donna blows kisses!" We laughed and said our goodbyes.
Funny. Joey’s mother was expressing her thanks to me, but I should have been thanking her. I had been focusing upon all the wrong things. What was truly significant? A child left my class feeling important. His Mommy was affirmed. A teacher loved a mother’s child, smiled, and included this precious little boy. This is the nature of WeJoySing.
God enabled ME to bring joy to one small part of this family’s day. They reflected that joy back to me. It was sure to spill over into our lives at home.
Especially while blowing kisses.
A Note From Mrs. Jo
Ever catch your WeJoySing instructor blowing kisses? It’s one way we say "I love you."
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