February is the worst month of the year, according to my husband (an Ohio native). The cold, cloudy days of winter seem to drag on and threaten to keep Spring from ever arriving.

One of my favorite things to do every morning is visit the two-year old classroom at the early childhood education center where I work. They greet me with big smiles and out-stretched arms. At the beginning of the year I realized quickly that to bond with these little ones I needed to find something to do with them each day that would be our “thing.” It would be our special time to do something that we all love to do together. A time that they would look forward to each day. That “thing” ended up being singing, but it didn't come easily at first.

The benefits of singing with preschoolers are undeniable, and the memories made through sharing childhood songs are sweet. But I had to come up with a creative solution to overcome some communication barriers in order to make this time truly memorable and impactful for these littles...

For over 25 years, I have presented to audiences at high schools and college fairs. Before I present, I ask a number of questions to better understand my audience. One question is to ask how many folks in attendance are parents of high school juniors or seniors. Invariably, the majority raise their hand and I jokingly (?) respond that for these parents, it is not a financial aid presentation night, but a financial aid “panic” night. While the audience is kind and offer a half-hearted smile or chuckle, for the majority of parents, this is a fact: families have not adequately planned and saved for college costs.