BOCA BETH: One Song at a Time

It was my first time since our homeschool convention in March that I had been in front of fellow teachers, care providers and parents to share my message from my Boca Beth Program along with my enthusiasm and energy as a keynote.  So much has happened since that wonderful Cincinnati Homeschool Convention . . . Mary (my sister) and I came home to Florida on a true high after such a warm reception and record sales in Ohio only to have our mom pass on to the Lord 3 days later.

I almost feel like the first two months have passed in a time warp.  I am just getting back to feeling somewhat normal, getting caught up on business matters, feeling like myself again - the happy, positive, always ready with an upbeat word mom, friend, wife, sister and Boca Beth. 

I miss mom so much.  I reach out to call her so often still, only having to remind myself that she isn’t there.  It’s so final…..and I know I will see her again in a much better place.

So, this past Friday with the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region in Tallahassee, Florida I paced the women’s restroom floor of the Civic Center practicing my speech (nervous as a ‘chicken in a chicken coop’ I told a friend/amiga of mine as she exclaimed with delight upon seeing me in the restroom!).

It was a night to celebrate the care providers of this seven county area in northern Florida, and the theme was “Evening with the Stars” along with an underlying note of ‘Imagine.’  The room was beautiful, the food looked yummy and most importantly, these providers, preschool teachers, directors, owners and board members were stylin’!!!!!!!!!!!  They had put on their Sunday best, and I was so proud to have been invited to be their keynote speaker.

Nerves are good they tell us - as long as they provide the adrenalin to do well and not overcome you totally.  And that is just what happened!  I got my message of how fun it can be to bring Spanish and English together for young children with some of my Boca Beth songs and tips.  Mainly I was able to convey to my amigas and amigos how very important they are in the lives of every child they reach daily.  We imagined, we sang, we laughed, we played a little with Boca the puppet.

I even mentioned mom Friday night in my speech.  It wasn’t planned.  Wasn’t written down.  It just felt appropriate; my first presentation since her death.  I looked towards the heavens and thanked her for giving me the strength to deliver a motivating keynote.  Thanks mom!  And thank you Chris and Chris and Rue and Kathy for the chance to begin my travels again as Boca Beth - the woman who loves to share her passion for second language learning with young children along with her energy, enthusiasm and true love of working with early childhood educators and care providers.  I love motivating them to be the best and most positive people they can be in order to be the great teachers and role models our youth of today needs.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth