Comments on: Nature or Nurture http://www.manicmammy.com/2008/08/09/nature-or-nurture/ Reviews, news, family, wine and me Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:36:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Deborah http://www.manicmammy.com/2008/08/09/nature-or-nurture/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Deborah Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:32:04 +0000 http://www.manicmammy.com/?p=232#comment-870 Heh. Well we sold his Steinway grand piano to move here, so he doesn't play. As for singing, I get the occasional church gig from family and friends, but I'm not too into it any more. But I love karaoke! :) Yeah, it's a really tough call. Sounds like you have the right approach. Heh. Well we sold his Steinway grand piano to move here, so he doesn’t play. As for singing, I get the occasional church gig from family and friends, but I’m not too into it any more. But I love karaoke! :)

Yeah, it’s a really tough call. Sounds like you have the right approach.

]]> By: Manic Mammy http://www.manicmammy.com/2008/08/09/nature-or-nurture/comment-page-1/#comment-858 Manic Mammy Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:26:30 +0000 http://www.manicmammy.com/?p=232#comment-858 Hey Deborah, thats really interesting about you and Paul. Do either of you play/sing anymore? I'm totally with you on wanting the kids to play some musical instrument. I regret now giving up the piano in my teens. Usual teenage rebellion on my part. I was never in the child prodigy league but I was good at it and did enjoy playing. Oscar is now learning the piano aged 9. Its a total chore to get him to practice and he moans about going to each lesson but I see him coming out of each time buzzing, delighted with himself. I'm usually fairly easygoing with the kids. I'm as happy for them to hang out with their friends, play, run around and use their imaginations as to go to structured activities. The older boys have tried and given up going to GAA, Tae Kwon-do, soccer, athletics, badminton. Sibéal is also hopefully starting ballet in September, something she too has been requesting for an eternity or so it seems! Its really hard to know and very easy to concede to your child when they're moaning and whinging, I guess I'm more strict this time with the piano and Oscar sticking to it as I can see it is something that he does have a talent for and does enjoy despite himself. Or maybe its just wishful thinking and my living vicariously through my children! Who knows? Hey Deborah, thats really interesting about you and Paul. Do either of you play/sing anymore?

I’m totally with you on wanting the kids to play some musical instrument. I regret now giving up the piano in my teens. Usual teenage rebellion on my part. I was never in the child prodigy league but I was good at it and did enjoy playing.

Oscar is now learning the piano aged 9. Its a total chore to get him to practice and he moans about going to each lesson but I see him coming out of each time buzzing, delighted with himself.

I’m usually fairly easygoing with the kids. I’m as happy for them to hang out with their friends, play, run around and use their imaginations as to go to structured activities. The older boys have tried and given up going to GAA, Tae Kwon-do, soccer, athletics, badminton. Sibéal is also hopefully starting ballet in September, something she too has been requesting for an eternity or so it seems!

Its really hard to know and very easy to concede to your child when they’re moaning and whinging, I guess I’m more strict this time with the piano and Oscar sticking to it as I can see it is something that he does have a talent for and does enjoy despite himself.
Or maybe its just wishful thinking and my living vicariously through my children! Who knows?

]]> By: Deborah http://www.manicmammy.com/2008/08/09/nature-or-nurture/comment-page-1/#comment-855 Deborah Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:41:17 +0000 http://www.manicmammy.com/?p=232#comment-855 Oh that would have been interesting to watch. Paul was a piano prodigy and he and his sister have been playing since they were three. Both forced into it and both were excellent, but he had the edge. An inherent talent that she couldn't quite match. He finally copped on and realised he had been forced into it and felt like he was brought up a trained monkey. I was sort of similar with the singing but to a lesser extreme. The obvious difference being you can learn an instrument, but you can either sing or can't. It's a tough call with the kids given our background. I think music is great for them, but where do you draw the line? You don't throw in the towel when they don't want to practice or do you? Ella is starting ballet next month, but she's been begging to do it forever, so we'll see how it goes. This parenting lark is hard, I tell ya, don't know how you do it with 5! Oh that would have been interesting to watch. Paul was a piano prodigy and he and his sister have been playing since they were three. Both forced into it and both were excellent, but he had the edge. An inherent talent that she couldn’t quite match. He finally copped on and realised he had been forced into it and felt like he was brought up a trained monkey. I was sort of similar with the singing but to a lesser extreme. The obvious difference being you can learn an instrument, but you can either sing or can’t.

It’s a tough call with the kids given our background. I think music is great for them, but where do you draw the line? You don’t throw in the towel when they don’t want to practice or do you? Ella is starting ballet next month, but she’s been begging to do it forever, so we’ll see how it goes. This parenting lark is hard, I tell ya, don’t know how you do it with 5!

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