I had such a great time during the Crayola “Inside the Crayon Box” live chat with Lisa Loeb a couple of weeks ago and was thrilled when I was given the opportunity through MyBlogSpark and Crayola to ask Lisa a few more questions after the live chat. Lisa Loeb has been in my live since I was in college.. 1995-ish. Remember her hit song Stay (I Missed You)? I listened to that song thousands of times. Lisa stands out as a creative artist to me because her songs are honest and emotional. There’s depth to Lisa’s music and during my recent chat with her and the interview answers, I learned that Lisa really is very creative, honest and passionate about life, being a mother, her music and her new book Lisa Loeb’s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs.
So, on with the interview.
Me: If you were stuck in a room with colored paper clips what would you do with them?
Lisa: I’d probably put one on each fingertip and pretend they’re long colorful fingernails. That was a dream of my sister and I when we were young, to have long nails, and I think we used to do this trick with the paperclips.
Me: What is the biggest challenge you have faced being a relatively new parent?
Lisa: The biggest challenge is making sure I get enough sleep. Sleep fuels me for the day, emotionally, physically, creatively, and I’m a better wife, mother, and creative person when I get enough. I have to remind myself that my two-year-old daughter has her own inner alarm clock, which is pretty regular, so I need to respect that and plan my sleep accordingly. When sleep is properly planned, everything’s more fun. There are a number of interesting parenting things I’m learning about as well, like discipline, and learning to tell my daughter “no,” which I guess is part of discipline. But, that being said, sleep really makes everything easier for everyone.
Me: What websites do you turn to for parenting tips and advice?
Lisa: I look at all kinds of sites, from healthychild.org, to Parenting.com, to thebump.com. Often I look up a subject and then troll around the Internet looking for information that helps.
Me: What’s your take on elementary and middle schools cutting funding for art classes/programs?
Lisa: I think art classes and programs as well as physical education classes and programs are a major part of our responsibility to our kids. The creative and physical element of a child’s life really enhances the rest of their ability to learn and experience life. Cutting the budget for these things really deprives a child of what they need to become a well-rounded human.
Me: What is one thing that you wish someone had told you about being a new mom, before your daughter was born? (I wish someone told me….)
Lisa: I have so many books and advice that people gave me about being a new mom… I’m trying to think about what they didn’t say. I guess that the first few months are really exciting and beautiful with a new child, but it’s also like a hazing period. I didn’t realize that something as basic as learning how to put a child to sleep could seem so complicated. I had heard that the love you feel for your child is so unbelievable, and they were right.
For more Lisa Loeb interview questions watch Crayola’s “Inside the Crayon Box” Chat with Lisa Loeb video below. It’s 45 minutes long and it really is worth it to watch the entire video so get comfy and enjoy!
Be sure to check out Lisa’s book Lisa Loeb’s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children’s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa’s Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa!
