The Music Lesson

 As parents, don't we struggle with what we want our kids to learn. Some lessons we want to come more quickly,( like potty training).  Some lesson will take time, (like realizing how cool your siblings actually are). There are the more tangible skills like how to play the piano and throw a ball. Then there are the skills you can't perform on a stage like, perseverance, kindness and patience. 
    The hubby and I decided we want each of our children to be active in something but not over book their schedules with busyness. Something musical and something physical seemed balanced, in theory, until you multiply by four, and add school activities, scouting (which is a must) and other church based activities. Grant (above) leaves for school at 6:30 four days a week for his band lesson! My oldest son is now in Jr High and his interest in band is waning. To keep him going we went down to our local Music Store and looked into renting a shinny new Baritone so he wouldn't have to use the school's well played Baritone.  As we talked it over,  we realized the cost of a rental was the same monthly price of the hip hop class his brother really wanted to take. So we left the store with out an instrument and had a very neat conversation on the drive home. As a Mom, I felt dejected for not providing him with everything I thought he needed. Jack understood our limited funds. He knows our desire to stay with in our means and allow for each child to have a chance to grow and learn and as we talked he admitted that in the future, the piano would be something he would like to learn and would have more use for. I was so impressed with his maturity (and reasoning out of something he is hoping to drop anyway).
It started as as a pity moment but I loved this chance to have a real discussion with my son. It looks like there have been some intangible learning going on and I like what my son knows!