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?