One fine morning a few months ago, Ryan and I woke up, gazed directly into each others crustie-encircled eyes, and realized that in only a matter of weeks our romantic morning ritual would be replaced with "Mawwwwm, Daaaaad, Tootsie just took the spoon out of my cereal and licked iiiiiit". At which point a screaming thrashing brawl would ensue. The way we saw it, we had two options. Find someone to smuggle in a 3 month supply of Valium to keep us from chucking our children out a very high window, or sign our them up for any and every summer camp available. We went with option #2. For the past 4 weeks they have been adhering to a rigorous schedule that was planned out in excruciating detail by your truly. And as a result they are still living. By the way, if you have children and you actually look forward to summer? You are not human. Either that or you're a really crappy liar.
Our 10 year old just finished a week long guitar camp. Originally I signed him up purely to buy he and his brother some time apart from each other. But when I picked him up after the first day and he was all, "MOM. GUITAR. DRUMS. SWEEEEEEET!" That was all I could understand really, what with the flailing arms and girlie squeals. My immediate reaction was that of excitement on his behalf. After all, this is my kid who has learned the painful way that so far, he's just not cut out for sports. 5 days later, however, I realized what all the hoopla was about. Enter mini mosh-pit, black skinny jeans, and inappropriate song that included the words fire and desire... ACK! He's TEN!!!!
Don't get me wrong here. It was very cool to see my kid up there rockin' the crap out of that guitar. But you guys, again with the age appropriate concept, HE'S ONLY TEN! I had no idea this was what we had signed up for when we decided on guitar camp. And now? Now he want's to actually take lessons at this particular guitar school. I'm losing sleep over this. What would you do? While I feel compelled to allow my kids to be themselves and develop their talents, I can't help but worry that this is just too much too soon. But on the flip side, I've always told them that I will trust them until they give me a reason not to. Am I invoking a punishment before a crime has even been committed by saying no to this? I'm starting to think that we really had something good going with the throwing them out the window plan. Why do things seem so much more complicated and intense than when I was 10. Life was so much easier when we could just peg our pants, throw in a banana clip and head to Hardee's for a hamburger. Yes you did!!!
