Monday, January 25, 2010
Killing someone...is it really worth it?
Oh boy! The thought of actually killing someone today crossed my mind. I know...I know it sounds terrible, and it would never really happen. I love him way too much to let my hands ring his neck. But to be very honest with you, the thought did cross my mind. How nice am I supposed to be? Really...and how much patience do I have to have? Today I hit my limit with sitting next to my child and trying to have them practice the piano effectively. Twenty minutes isn't too much to ask, is it? I mean, how hard is it to sit down and focus on something for just a short amount of time. Is it really asking that much? Is trying to be a mother and a child's piano teacher at the same time going just a bit too far? A few deep breaths, a fake smile towards him, a "you're on your own", and me walking out the door is how it all ended this morning. You would have thought differently by the way he was acting. Flailing himself all over the keyboard, and screaming like the ceiling had just fallen down on him was the result of our quality time together. Is this just not going to work? Do I accept my child as a quitter, a failure in this area? He's got talent. He just isn't willing to spend the time to develop it. And maybe this isn't it at all. Maybe it is because I am his teacher. Who knows?!? I am sinking here, so if there is anyone out there who has a suggestion or some advice, I ready and willing to hear it.
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8 comments:
Well I have zero piano talent so I am not much advice but I do have to make Lauren practice. Here are a few things that I do. We have an incentive chart and everytime she practices for 20 min WITHOUT whining or me proding she gets a sticker. When she has reached certain marks along the way she gets incentives like something from the dollar store, or a date with om, etc. Also, instead of me picking how many times to practice a song or measure, etc we have the ginat dice she rolls and that determines how many tiems she has to play. I figure in the end it will average out. Anyway, I am sure that you have a lot better ideas than I do. If you have any great ones I would love to hear!
Yeah, about that….. You're going to have to ask Aunt Ellen about that....I think she's permanently scarred because of what all four girls did to her.
With one child it works great, with another it doesn't at all. . .depends on the personality. I tried it and with K it just wasn't worth the frustration and relationship--she does much better with a teacher who isn't me.
You are a GREAT teacher. It's not you. I echo what 'Loni' said. :) hehe. Totally.
I wouldn't label him as a failure and a quitter. Maybe he didn't want to learn to begin with like six out of seven of us. I hated it. Yes, I'm thankful now, but there are different things BESIDES piano. It's not a requirement to get into heaven!
I just applaud you for knowing how to play yourself and making such effort to pass it on to yours ;) good job!
I think that you shouldn't sit beside him. Make sure you stand, or sit where you can hear him, but don't get too close. Every once in a while you just say, "Keep going." Or, "Can I hear that again?" Oh, and make sure you give lots of compliments. "That was so wonderful! Can you play that again just for me?" Or, "hey, can I play that" The last one might be so he knows the ways it's supposed to be played, but you don't tell him that. Good luck!
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