REALLY????

I was lucky enough to go down to Arizona to visit my brother and his family as well as get my teeth checked by him this last weekend. I had a great time, especially because I was by myself. My youngest sister and her husband are also in Arizona, but in another city while he is getting his PhD. They came up to visit for the weekend as well. It was fun hanging out with family. On Sunday we all went to church. During RS one of the Presidency came up and asked who I was and if I was visiting or new to the area. Then she asked me if that was my daughter with the baby that had been sitting by me. Really??? Do I look old enough to have a 24 year old daughter? I was always a bit paranoid when she was little because I was a freshman in high school when she was born. I worried people would think she was my baby and I was a teenage mom. I would always announce loudly in public places, "Let's go find MOM!" so that people would know I was the sister or at least the babysitter. This is the first time I have gotten it on this side. It was funny when it happend, and I guess it is still amusing, but REALLY! Am I that old???? If my kids had been there they would've never asked it--I guess I shouldn't travel without my kids any more. (Yeah, Right!)

How does one know whether you are pushing your kids too hard to make up for your own shortcomings or if you really are being reasonable and they are just trying to make life hard? Playing the piano is not an option for my kids. My mom had all eight of us take piano until we were good enough to play from the Hymn book. For some that was better than others, but we all took at least into jr high. I have always been glad I play. The biggest regret you usually hear others say is that they don't play the piano. What most people don't realize that unlike sports, piano is a lot of work for the parents. I have had a few students who take piano from me who after 6 weeks their parents come to me and say that their kids don't practice. I tell the parent that they have to sit down with them and help them--every day. I don't require a lot of practice time from my students. It would take them 15 minutes it they just sat down and did it. The problem with piano is that you end up with at least 15 minutes of griping, whining, yelling, throwing, and pure insanity. It is no wonder that more people don't play--how many parents choose to put up with that daily? Now there are some kids that just love to practice. My sister Jenny would memorize all her pieces after the first day and would sit and play them all week--even when she was little. My kids are not that way.

So to go back to my opening question. Is it worth all the headache and hassle? I know I wish I would've practiced more. I actually got pretty good at sight reading because I would practice once--usually just before lessons. I had a great teacher in high school that put up with this. She just put me in competitions where I had to memorize pieces. There is nothing like a test to make one study--or practice in this case. I do wonder how much better I'd be if I wasn't so lazy and would've practiced more. Then again I practice a lot now, so maybe it didn't matter, but I digress.

Here is what led to this question. I teach my kids piano. Why not? I play. I can teach beginners. Most importantly--why should I pay someone else $50+ when I can do it myself. I teach other people's kids, why not my own. I always said that when it didn't work anymore I'd get them a teacher. Well, it's not working. Each week it's a different kid. The past little bit it has been A. We sit down for lessons (not for practicing, she loves to practice--weird.) and the antics start. She acts up. I tell her that if I get up and walk away she will loose some privilege--this week it was cupcakes due to a birthday at our home. She continues. I take something away. She drapes herself across the piano bench moaning and whining. This week she came up from her prone position and hits her nose on the piano. Then the real tears and crying start. By this point I am so fed up with it that I walk away. Then I hear the scream. Blood is pouring out of her nose into her hands and onto my piano bench. This made me more mad. (I know--not much of a patient mom is left at minute 15 of major drama!) I grab kleenex and hand it to her, telling her to get off the bench, pinch her nose hard and go somewhere else. (I was pretty proud of myself that I didn't yell. I had a bit of nice mom left in me.) I clean up the piano bench and then took a time out.

When I told my husband this story he just couldn't stop laughing. It has been 3 days and it still makes me mad.

It wasn't until later that the anger hit me. Why couldn't she just sit there and have a 15 minute piano lesson without the drama? Why did she have to waste 30 minutes of my time that I really didn't have that day on a bloody nose. I then let her have it--NO MORE TOUCHING THE PIANO--EVER--OR ANYTHING WITH A KEYBOARD, LIKE THE COMPUTER! The computer was a great stroke at the end, but who was a punishing with the no piano? She has talent. She is a great pianist when she is not whimpering about it. Am I just giving up like all those whimpy sports parents that can't handle helping their kid every day with 15 minutes of piano lessons.

I know I'm going to have to backpedal on my insane punishment, but I wish she would just come to me and tell me how much she misses piano and can we please, please, please try again. How long do I wait before she says this or I give in?

So here is a video of my kids with some church friends doing Bushel and a Peck at a ward Broadway night. I was crazy enough to put this number together. The girls were all darling and loved doing it. Anne is the one you can hear singing. She keeps doing everything backwards because she sat in front to show the others girls how to do it during practices--which means she practiced it backwards. Emmy is the one on the end. Kate is hidden behind the big green stuffed animal. Enjoy!

going crazy

I have put off starting a blog for a long time and for many reasons. Mostly, I am not a cutsie person. I am lazy, but want things perfect. When am I supposed to have time to write cute, clever and informative things in a blog so that others may find it worth their while to read them. The second reason I have put it off is because I know my blog will end up my venting journal and lets be real--who wants to read someone elses venting journal!

Here I am starting a blog. Why? you ask. Because I have had sick kids and now I am sick and I need to vent! My voice is gone so I have to write it all down. Crazy! We went on a wonderful vacation to Island Park Idaho with my family the first full week of July. Tyler got sick there. Anne was sick on the way home and for the last 10 days someone has been sick. I finally started getting sick Saturday. I think it is Strep Throat. I don't have a doctor to go to, plus how am I supposed to call a dr with no voice, what am I supposed to do with my 4 sick kids while I go to the dr? So i am just lying at home hoping that it isn't srep and that the dr would only send me home telling me to drink lots of fluids and take Advil.

the nice think about sitting at home is that I am discovering that we have a huge infestation of black widows all over our garage and back yard. I keep finding them right where my kids play. Not just little ones--huge quarter size ones making egg sacs. I just want to curl up in my bed and never come out again. Who put me in charge of 4 kids? What were they thinking? I can't even be in charge of myself.

Okay, the negative monster in me is coming out. That is what being cooped up in the house for a few days will do to you. I found an old RX of penicillin in my medicine cupboard and started taking it. I'm hoping I feel better by this evening. Next week I am looking for a Dr. so I can actually have someone to see in an emergency!