Hey second-time mamas… Remember that mom and baby music class you signed baby number one up for? Likely weeks in advance? The same one you lovingly went to every week, where you sang, danced and played with your little ones – giving them your undivided attention?
Yep.
Now hands up if your second (or third, or fourth) babe literally hasn’t had your undivided attention since they were born. (See that? That’s my hand wayyyy up there)
That music class? Yah, you can’t go to that with a toddler in tow, and frankly you’re not even sure if you could find the time to fit in in every week.
Which is precisely when the second child mom-guilt starts rearing its ugly head! I mean who hasn’t felt, at some point, like all the babes that came after the first are getting shortchanged somehow?!
Well I’m just going to go ahead and say I’ve found an app that’s changed my life. And I feel like that’s only roughly a 2% exaggeration, because it’s really freaking amazing.
The clever folks over at the Royal Conservatory of Music® (yep, the same ones who put together the fabulous children’s music programs we know and love) really GET me. And because they apparently live inside my brain, they’ve created the Smart Start™ app. Let me just tell you – Charlie and I couldn’t be more excited.
So why am I going a little bananas about Smart Start™? Here’s a quick overview of what it’s all about:
- It’s an app designed for moms of young babes (under a year old), and it guides you through mini interactive music sessions with your little ones that you can do anywhere (even in the car when you’re waiting for preschool pick-up… you know… so I’ve heard)
- There are lyrics, sing-along music and mini tutorials for each session (built right into the app) so you always feel completely supported and clear on how to best engage your little one!
- There’s zero judgement when you’re singing ridiculously out of key (this is extraordinarily important in our house)
- The mini-sessions are each only 10-15 mins long – so you can totally fit them into a toddler-free moment in your day, and create some special bonding time with your littlest babes
- The entire app was created with the help of a neuroscientist and focuses on how music and movement can build your babies brain!
- You can get started for free with the mini-sessions and some extra songs on the app, and there are other albums you can add for just $3.99. There’s a ton of variety to choose from!
Honestly? This motherhood gig is tough enough, without us piling on a little extra guilt over the music classes we’re never going to make happen (if we’re being honest – if I’d had Smart Start™ when Em was a babe, it would have been a no-brainer to use if for baby number one as well).
So instead? I’m focusing on what’s important – making time to bond with our little ones – and embracing fabulous tools like Smart Start™ to make it happen.
Now, go download the app and try a mini-session and tell me what you think! If you can get through Fuzzy the Clown without giggling, you’re a better person than I.
Note: This post was written in partnership with the Royal Conservatory of Music®, and we received compensation as part of our partnership. All opinions are always ours though, so if you see Charlie and I jamming to our app while we’re out about… feel free to join in!
