On Sept. 11, Edward Smart’s wife gave birth to a baby girl.
Smart has been teaching instrumental music at Carlmont for the past couple years, ever since the program expanded enough to necessitate an additional teacher. Last year, he temporarily took over full responsibility of the program when the main teacher, John DaBaldo, hurt his back. Now he is faced with an even greater responsibility-raising a child.
“It’s a different way of life. It was weird. It was like the first time in my life where I did not want to play video games.” said Smart.
Smart named his daughter Annelien Ciara Smart because of his and his wife’s heritage. The first name is Dutch because Smart is a citizen of Belgium and America. The middle name is Irish because both Smart and his wife are Irish. By chance, Annalien Smart’s nursery is a color reflective not only of her parents’ tastes but also of their heritage.
“It wasn’t until we were checking out of the store that I saw on the screen of the register that it said ‘Belgian Waffle’ which was just hilarious because, you know, I’m Belgian,” said Smart in recollection of the time he bought the paint.
Leisha Moroney claims that having a child does not really deter from Smart’s teaching.
“He’s definitely more tired, more impatient, but he seems pretty normal otherwise,” said Moroney, a student of Smart’s.
One of Smart’s favorite parts of being a father is interacting with his daughter.
“In the few moments that she is aware of what’s going on and able to interact with facial expressions, that’s where it’s fun, and that’s what I really like. It’s just making faces and talking to her-that’s a lot of fun,” said Smart.
When Annelien Smart gets upset without an obvious reason, Smart has found that bouncing her up and down helps to calm her. That action eventually evolved into dancing.
“Last week, I put on some tango music and I actually tangoed around my apartment.” said the father.
Smart hopes to endow some of his passion for music on his daughter. Although typically of different genres, he and his wife often hum tunes to Annelien Smart.
“Usually it’s like Brahms’ Lullaby, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, When You Wish Upon a Star, something like that. My wife has started to do that and started singing more of her alternative and pop music. Even if it’s a fast song, she’ll slow it down and hum it,” said Smart.
When she gets older, maybe Annelien Smart will show an interest in music.
Smart said, “She has to try it. I’m not going to force her to do it if that is something that she really doesn’t want to do. But she has to try it. That’s something that I live my life by. Whether it’s food or a different activity, whatever. I’m not going to knock it for myself until I try it, or at least do some research on it.”
Annelien Smart has many exciting years ahead that will keep her father entertained.
