Photo by Meredith Comfort

Alison Edelstein is creator of Chirpy Chatterbox, an educational company that provides quick and effective tips on fostering early language development through music, laughter, and play. Alison is a Speech Language Pathologist, a mama of two girls, ages 2 and 6, a wife, a lover of all things music, and a total goofball. She created Chirpy Chatterbox to encourage her fellow parents (and herself) to LOVE, LAUGH, and LEARN every day! Enjoy her exclusive Business Heroine Interview…

BH: How did you end up doing what you do? Tell us your story!

Alison: I have always been a dreamer and loved tapping into my creative side. My practical side has often held me back from fully pursuing my dreams. It took me about 30 years to finally realize that it was time to pursue what I loved, despite all the reasons that told me not to (especially fear).

I am a mother of two girls, a Speech Language Pathologist, and love to teach and learn through music, laughter, and play. One day I realized I could take the inspiration I got from my kids and turn it into a website that I was passionate about and that would serve other parents.

Chirpy Chatterbox was born and it took me about a year to get the site up and running. It recently launched and I am so happy that I decided to follow my heart! Anne Perry’s Business Heroine Academy and Dream Business Mentorship were instrumental in getting me started and taking me to the place I’m at now and I am so grateful for her support!

BH: What is your ‘Wake Up Call for the World?’ In other words, what is most of the world asleep about that you would love to wake up?   

Alison: This is a fun one! I know as a parent, a person, and in my career, I thought that aspiring to be perfect and learn everything was what I was supposed to do. One day I realized that I was burning myself out with crazy expectations of what I should be and do.

When I am in the moment and following what makes me happy and my kids happy, magic happens! It isn’t always necessary to plan and perfect everything, because spontaneous moments can be the best (and often most fun) learning opportunities. This was such a relief and of course I continually work to stay in this mindset as much as I can.

I hope to support other parents in encouraging their children’s communication development and early learning in fun and silly ways that are simple and use things they already have around them. Simple is good! :)

BH: What are the biggest challenges or aspirations your clients come to you with, and what does your work make possible for them?

Alison: I feel that the biggest challenge parents of little ones face is that they take on too much guilt or feel overwhelmed by all of the information out there. Again, the striving to be a perfect parent, as we all do, often leads to a stressed out parent.

The first thing I often tell parents when they ask me what they are doing wrong is, “you are doing so many wonderful things and you are a wonderful parent!” I want parents to see their strengths (as well as their children’s) and start from there. When we treat ourselves kindly as parents (which I admit is often a struggle for me), we are happier and model a strong sense of self-esteem for our kids.

Then I try to help parents make small tweaks to what they are already doing to encourage their child’s communication development. I want them to know that it doesn’t always have to be a struggle, supporting and teaching our children can (and often should) be fun! The materials I provide focus on music, play, and fun.

BH: We’re curious about your breakthrough moment in business. Looking back, what created the breakthrough?

Alison: I would have to say that my breakthrough moment was the introductory call I had with Anne. After 15 minutes, I was in tears (of joy of course).

She asked me, “what if creating your dream business is possible?” I stopped in my tracks. I had never really let myself open up to the idea that I had the power to turn my dreams in reality.

She made me realize that I had created invisible walls that blocked myself from doing what I loved. I don’t even know where these walls came from because I grew up with the most supporting and loving parents anyone could ask for and had a great childhood. I think I always just always had the type of personality that allowed my fears to hold me back from taking action. I needed to lift the veil to realize that the walls I had built were imaginary.

BH: What words of wisdom do you have for all the emerging Business Heroines out there who are on the cusp of creating their own purpose-based business?

Alison: First follow your heart! Then do the “work” required to create the amazing things that will best serve your dream clients. And follow Anne’s advice that your “work” should feel like play! Don’t give up on your dream!

Special Offers from Heroine Alison Edelstein!

Visit her shop to download one of these freebies: “Language Building Activities for Babies, Toddlers, and Beyond,” “The Areas of Speech & Language Quick Reference Chart,” or the fun “5 Ways to Build Language with Puppets” activity that comes with a printable Chirpy puppet.

To connect with Alison about how services and fun ways Chirpy Chatterbox can support your child’s language development, contact her at .

We’d love to hear from YOU…

If you have children, how do you balance parenting and creativity? What ideas do you have for involving children in creative pursuits? Leave your answer in the comments below! 

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alison edelstein, August 2015 Issue, children, creating with kids, creativity, entrepreneur, fun with kids, interview, mom, parenting, parenting tips, women in business, working mom, working mother