3 By 10

"A Better Day" by Claire Stevens

The last few months have been super busy and you can probably tell by the fact that I haven't been writing as much. Once the school year begins and homework starts coming home every night it seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day.

I must say that Claire and her music have been keeping us pretty busy.  You see last Spring she sat down and wrote her five year goals and yes, being that she's only nine, my husband and I were quite impressed that she put so much time and thought into what she wanted to accomplish. The three things that stood out for us was that she wanted to write and record her first EP, she wanted to play on the Sunset Strip in LA and she wanted to make a television or radio appearance...all before her 10th birthday.  As I was counting the months in my head I realized that she had approximately seven months to make this happen...and I also realized that she has always been determined and so we made a commitment to help her as long as she was having fun and maintaining her grades at school.

During the Summer I watched Claire writing songs and recording in the studio and I realized that sometimes as adults we spend so much time defining what we can and can't do based on age when maybe it's more important to just do what you like and have fun.  Nine year olds approach the world with such wonder...and I admire that!

Well, we are about 4 weeks away from Claire's 10th birthday and I am happy to say that she achieved her 1st three goals.  She played at House Of Blues on the Sunset Strip in August and will be performing there again in January, she appeared on Daybreak on my birthday with Ron Corning which was just an awesome day, and her first EP will be released on iTunes on December 1st.

To say I'm proud of her is such an understatement...and it goes so much further than these three goals.  I'm proud of her because of the person she is and her determination to always be the best she can be.  You see in the middle of working so hard to meet her music goals she has also managed to get straight A's and be named Citizen Of The Month at school for being a good role model and for showing respect for self and others.

And I want you to know that the reason I am sharing this story is because for me it is a story about what you can achieve when you set your mind to it and you have a positive attitude, regardless of age.  I seriously look at Claire running around with her friends and am so thankful that despite the fact that she is goal oriented and talented, she is still just a fun-loving nine-year old.

I have always told Claire..."You have fun...you set goals...you work hard...you play hard...you remain true to yourself...you treat others how you want to be treated...and you will succeed...and always remember to find the fun in whatever you do!"


My Style Shout Out Tip:  It's never to early to start teaching your children about goals and goal setting. We started early with Claire...just like learning to walk, learning about goals and goal setting is achieved through baby steps and setting your children up for success not failure.  And when they do fall down...you teach them how to get up and keep going...and you tell them tomorrow will be "a better day!"

Red Cross Always Ready To Help

As I was sitting here this morning watching the Today Show and updates about Hurricane Sandy I realized that the last blogs I wrote about the Red Cross were written to celebrate the organization's 101st birthday and about how my nine year old turned one of her shows last April into a benefit for the Red Cross to assist tornado victims in our area.

This blog comes at a time when the Red Cross is once again on the front lines helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy in the North East.  Watching the images on the screen were especially difficult because I grew up in New York and New Jersey and have so many fabulous memories.  I am especially glad that when our daughter was four we were transferred back to the area for a year and that now, as a family, we have some very happy memories of living in that area, which include picnics and kite flying at the shore!

I give this organization so much credit and they really need our assistance now...so if you are able to make a donation please visit the Red Cross website.   And tonight tune into NBC for a concert to benefit the Red Cross and Hurricane Sandy victims.   My daughter said this concert featuring BonJovi and Bruce Springsteen will definitely raise more money than the gig she played and then happily added, "But like you always say Mom, every little bit counts!"