Fern Michonski / Fern’s Music
Pre-School Music Education Expert: The Children’s Advocate for Love and Kindness, Inspiring Creativity and Joy.
September 26, 2012—A Favorite Toy! 
Put on your memory caps and think back to when you were a child. Did you have a favorite toy? Most of us did. We liked all of our toys, but there was one, a very special one, that shared many hours of our childhood with us. Day after day this toy would be a part of our lives and would be there no matter how we were feeling. Now that you are thinking about that special toy, try to put yourself back there. Can you feel it? Can you experience the love you felt for that special toy once again, deep in your heart?
Well for me, that very special toy was my rocking horse. It was made out of wood and was red with black drawings for his mane, eyes and face. It had springs so that it offered a fabulous “ride”, allowing me to rock back and forth with reckless abandon, head thrown back, taking me on trips to wherever my imagination would go. Together, my rocking horse and I went everywhere! I literally spent hours and hours on my rocking horse. While rocking, I would play records on my little record player, joyously rocking to the music. I cannot tell you how many times I wore out the springs on my horse. My Dad would come along and make me a new spring. In the interim, while I was waiting for a new spring to appear, I would be sad. I just loved my rocking horse. He was my best friend. Eventually I outgrew him, but he was kept up in my attic because there was just no way on this earth I could part with him. Then, one day after I was married and we moved, my precious rocking horse got thrown away in the confusion. I was devastated. Even as an adult, my heart was sad.
Years later I was walking down a street and passed an old antique store. There, in the window, was a rocking horse for sale, exactly like my old horse. I ran inside and told my story to the clerk. She smiled and said, “You may take it—FREE!” I did. It will never be thrown away again.
Then I met my friend and colleague, Cheryl Elizabeth Waddell. She had written a story about a rocking horse and a little boy who were best friends. She shared the story with me. Tears welled in my eyes. She could have been writing about me. It was the most beautiful story I had ever read. I suggested that perhaps I could write a theme song to accompany her book. She agreed. The children’s Christmas picture book is called Rockrhydin and the theme song has the same name. The song was easy to write. I had it finished in no time because suddenly my rocking horse came back to life, with me on it, together again. My friend and colleague, Janice Prey Wolfe illustrated it and now I have published the book! I put the theme song on my Christmas CD, “Kids! Christmas! Fern!” and it was recommended by USA TODAY. Now, the song and book are together, bringing Christmas joy and magic to anyone who reads it and hears the song.
It makes me smile just talking about it. My rocking horse is still rocking happily in my heart and will continue to do so for the rest of my life! You can find it at: http://www.fernsmusicforkids.com