September 21, 2006 - Thursday
"I wish I didn't have my cello."

Jeremy said that on the way to Harry's lesson this afternoon. And I sure he meant it in general terms rather than as a statement about not wanting to practice cello today while Harry was having his drum lesson, although he had said that earlier, too, when we were loading the car. I tried to ignore him because I don't think he really means it. Last Saturday I had an odd Saturday morning meeting and mommy took Jeremy to his lesson. The trouble for Jeremy was that Harry got to go play at Rip's house to play and Jeremy felt slighted.

Instead of answering Jeremy's provocative comment directly, I answered Harry who had started to talk about his drums. He was nobly trying to placate his brother and saying things like: "sometimes I don't want to practice the drums either." I told Harry that there might well come a time when he decides he doesn't want to play drums anymore, and that it will be his decision. "But," I said, "if you do stop you want it to be for the right reason, not just because of a bad day or frustration at some hard work learning to play something. If you decide the drums aren't for you, that's fine. But you want to be careful deciding because you don't want to throw away all the hard work you've already done out of frustration. Because, you know, if you do keep it up, in a couple more years you'll probably find it really enjoyable. Maybe you'll get in a band and that will be really fun."

I eventually included Jeremy and his cello in that same discussion and it's certainly true. I will not push either one to keep playing if I think it's not their thing. But, I admit that I would be disappointed if Jeremy did stop playing cello.


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