Select Page

My husband and I are musicians. And we’re parents. When we are onstage, we do our best to really be ON stage. But all our “backstage” experiences with our son (our little frog) deeply affect who we are as people, thus musicians. Recent insights: 

I am having mild post-project malaise. I am a little sad to move on and a little overwhelmed by looming pressures of fast approaching new project deadlines.

Last weekend was the last performance of Trad Kids, my folk musical about wistful Agnes P. Mouse who is greatly cheered when she throws a Cupcake Party with her friends Fritz the Frog, Harold the Toad, and Lenny Lizard. It was a blast. The audiences were extraordinary: most of the tots sang (or drooled) along with choruses, which means that there are a lot of incredible parents out there who inspire and encourage their kids to participate, to sing, to clap and laugh.

After the creative and administrative deadlines of Trad Kids, there is much to prepare for our forthcoming Irish Folk Festival in Germany, and all the early Fall shows we’ll be doing before then. But where I used to rush from project to project–before I had a child, back when scheduling and making time to work was much less complicated (if only I’d known)–I feel a pull to step back and savor, before any feelings of success and pride fade, swallowed by a tide of new work, new creative pressures.

I don’t have much time to sit and savor. But this blog post is one moment when I can celebrate the great Trad Kids team I assembled with my husband Matt, wonderful Andy Cambria, and fabulous Cara Frankowicz. I can think back on the adorable little crew out there singing and giggling along. I can think about the stunning tail that Cara made for her lizard costume, or the pink tutu she made for Agnes P. Mouse. Simultaneously silly and excellent. “If it’s worth doing,” Cara said, “it’s worth overdoing.”

Celebrate the moments of your life, with a blog, mouse ears, and frog/toad hands playing guitars…

Leap, Little Frog

a musician's musings on nesting, being creative, traveling, and parenting