Comments on: Parenting and Piano Part 2

By: Fiona

Fiona — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 09:22:18 +0000

I am enjoying reading your blog! Good on you for managing baby and students! We did Babywise too, and it was wonderful! When my baby got to about one year old I had a young teenage neighbour come in to babysit for an hour, I think, while I taught. Then we renovated and I had my second child, so I took a break from teaching for a few years. Just couldn’t manage two baby/toddler routines plus trust the neighbour … etc. When my younger daughter was about 3 or 4 I started teaching again, but not much. Now my girls are 9 & 11 and I teach only 1.5hrs. They finish their homework and watch TV. I really couldn’t leave them much longer or they start arguing, or become zombies for the rest of the day from too much TV! Fortunately I have 12 students in the daytime – 10 at a school and 2 adults and I just have to say “no” to the many other requests for afternoon lessons. All the best with your little one! And can I recommend “Terrific Toddlers” by Mel Hayde if you continue with the Ezzo ideas? Brilliant for putting a daytime activity routine into practice for toddlers up to school-aged.

By: Atara

Atara — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:39:26 +0000

I’m all about babywise! We have a sitter watch the baby while I teach. But, the schedule is a dream! The sitter can’t believe how she can just put the baby down for naps and BAM – he’s out!

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:52:54 +0000

I discovered this a little late, but here’s what I’ve done with my daughter who is now 6. I resumed my teaching when she was about one. At the time, we lived next door to a retired lady who kept her for me while I was teaching, but we eventually moved. Since then, I’ve managed to work out deals with a couple of my middle school and older students. One of them comes for the first lesson of the day, and then stays for the rest of the afternoon to play with my daughter, get her snacks, etc. I pay them a little less than I might pay a high school or college-age babysitter to keep her if I actually left the house. I’m hoping that this is the last year I’ll have to do it – she’ll be in 1st grade next year. I do limit my teaching to 3 hours in the afternoon.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:58:34 +0000

Great suggestions, thanks for sharing your ideas!

By: Dan the Music Master

Dan the Music Master — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:18:52 +0000

It sounds like you’re doing a pretty good job at multi-tasking. Keep up the good wotrk1

By: sfrack

sfrack — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:10:45 +0000

I understand how what you are going through; I taught through raising 2 kids.
How about hiring a babysitter to come in only during that time? Or do a cooperative swap with another mother; you take her kids for a couple hours and then she takes yours?
It really is a brief time in the big picture. By the time your child is 3 you will be able to teach them cooperative needs while you teach.
I too did most of my teaching when my husband came home from work. That’s not a bad solution; he gets one on one with his child while you have a moment to feel professional.
Good luck!

By: Ginger

Ginger — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:33:15 +0000

I only teach at night when my husband is home. I’ve set my hours accordingly. I’ve tried having my kids around, but it doesn’t work well. The students are distracted, and so am I.