For info on this challenge, check out this post!
Click here to see a complete list of the prompts.
What's a skill you don't possess that you wish you did? Is there anything you can do to gain that skill? Why haven't you done it?
There are lots of things I wish I could do; the first couple that come to mind are play the piano and knit. I've taken steps to learn how to knit (took a class at Joann's) but because it's a slow process when you're first learning, I haven't been able to get into it enough to get better. It's a viscious circle, really.
I don't do it because I'm not good at it, I'm not good at it because I don't do it!
The second thing, playing the piano, is tougher… I can play Chopsticks, and I can play the top half of “Heart and Soul,” but that's the extent of my ivory tickling skills… I could get a little keyboard and a book and start learning, but I'm fully aware of my shortcomings in the patience department… as I look back now, at 32 years old, I wish my parents had MADE me take piano lessons as a child! I wish I'd been forced to play scales and practice exercised for hours on end, because I wish that I could sit down now and play a piece of sheet music.
It's hard now, because I really worry I'll force Max into lessons he hates, because I wish I'd had the opportunity; be it guitar, piano, martial arts or art classes, I need to always remind myself that I've had my childhood, and Max needs to have his! LOL
Next week's prompt: 4/27/10 Write a haiku! (Five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables)
That's the fine line we're treading with our kids right now — Peter at first loved gymnastics at the Little Gym, so when they had their annual sale last fall I signed him up for a whole year of lessons at 40% off. After 3 months he started telling me he didn't want to go and didn't like it, even though I could tell he was having fun when I watched. It's the same thing as with piano lessons. He wanted to at first, but now he doesn't want to practice.
I always wanted both of those as a kid, and my parents were never in the place to be able to provide them. Because Jon and I can make choices such that we can afford these things, I find myself always second guessing myself.
At least with Amber I know she likes the gymnastics. Some of it is like school I suppose. I will force him to go to school even if he doesn't like it. The things where I have to pay extra on top of school feel like they're in a different category somehow, but as I write this, perhaps not. I still give him plenty of free play time, although Peter is such a contrarian, I feel like I have to force him to even do that.
Sigh. No one ever said parenting would be easy. They only said it would be worth it.
–Beth
🙂 Whenever you want to knit, let me know!
I totally want to learn how to crochet! I have so many teach-yourself-kits and books around, but I just haven't gotten around to it. My grandmother tried teaching me when I was younger, but it never stuck. Kinda like piano didn't stick, either.
Here's to not projecting onto our kids!