August 9, 2016
I Didn't Think That Far Ahead

Dr. Laura,

When our son was 12, he wanted to quit piano lessons after taking them for four years.  My husband and I were upset, because he was good at piano, so we agreed to give him a two month "break," figuring he would miss them after being away from them for that period of time.  He, however, told us at that time that he would not want to start again.

As the two months were coming to an end, unbeknownst to me, our son overheard us discussing re-starting the lessons.  The next morning, I woke up early and sat on the couch in the dark to watch the sun rise.  That's when I saw my son coming down the stairs in his pajamas and then walking over to the kitchen drawer.  He pulled out the scissors and went toward the electric piano against the wall.  I couldn't see him at that point, but he quickly returned the scissors to the kitchen.  I startled him when I stood up and asked "what are you doing?"  At first he stammered, but then 'fessed up that he had heard us talking about re-starting the lessons.  So he came down the stairs, unplugged the piano and cut the electrical cord.  I was stunned.  I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

I then asked him "What were you planning to say to us when the piano teacher arrived and we realized the piano isn't working because the cord had been cut?"  He responded in typical 12-year old fashion:  "I didn't think that far ahead."

Alene
Mom of an athlete, not a musician


Posted by Staff at 10:59 AM