Caitlyn Waruszewski builds community for Pittsburgh parents through her play-based music classes, which she hosts under the name “The Musical Mom.” She started hosting classes out of her living room post-COVID, and membership has ballooned from four to 40 families over the past four years.
Waruszewski lives in Kennedy Township with her husband, Bob, and their four children: Lucy (11), Gracie (7), Eddie (6) and Cato (4). The latter three are adopted.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What led you to start adopting and fostering children?
When I was in college, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), and we didn’t know if we could have children. Lucy, our oldest, was the only pregnancy we’ve had since we got married. We decided to explore adoption, and it’s radically affected our lives in ways we never could have imagined, both positively and negatively.
We wanted our child to grow up with siblings — that was important to us — so we adopted Gracie as a baby, and then Eddie. We later got a call from Gracie’s biological dad about her half-brother, Cato, who we fostered.
Have there been any challenges with raising a blended family?
In August 2023, my youngest son’s biological mother drove to our house from Harrisburg, got out of the car, pulled a gun and started shooting at my whole family. Everyone survived physically, but we are still living with the ramifications of that three years later. My goal is to help my kids heal and have meaningful lives, and to advocate for them.
What do you find rewarding about it?
By nature, there is trauma involved with adoption, which adds a whole other layer to parenting. Despite all the love and the care we give to them, there’s still questions that we don’t have all the answers to. But the beauty of that is that I feel like my children have started to develop empathy, compassion and respect for each other’s differences. They know that family is not just blood, and that you can choose to stand in and love people like that.
How did you start teaching music classes?
I went to school for music education and taught at a school in Pittsburgh before my oldest was born. When we moved to Kennedy, there were no programs for young children, and I was struggling as a mom coming out of COVID. I felt like the social aspect of [parenting] was ruined with COVID. I was trying to find a way to rebuild the community.
How is the play-based approach to your classes beneficial for kids?
Children feel safe when they are connecting with people and are able to take input so much more easily through play. We sing songs together, we do lots of pretend play, and this makes meaningful connections for children. The goal of the class isn’t to learn a song; it’s about music as a gateway to play, since that’s what I’ve found most effective in my 15 years of teaching.
Family Favorites
Meal: Breakfast for dinner
Local Spot: Cookie Cookie Ice Cream
Vacation Spot: North Myrtle Beach
Family Activity: Bonfires in the backyard
Game: My kids love the Nex Playground
