I am the child of two academics. Mr. Waffle is the child of hippies. I believe in my heart of hearts that everything is a competition. Mr. Waffle thinks nothing is a competition. In fact, “It’s not a competition” is one of his favourite phrases and he once applied it to an Olympic race. To be clear, the Olympics are a competition.
I am a pushy parent. Mr. Waffle is a “relax and let the child develop; let the child explore and learn without direction; let the child discover what he/she likes” parent. Do you think my children would be able to speak French now, if I let him have his way? I think not. However, I am forced to confess that he and his brother and sister are very accomplished. Mr. Waffle’s brother is a superb piano player having developed an interest in the piano and never having been forced to play a scale (I mean, he did play scales, obviously, but by himself out of interest). Mr. Waffle didn’t like piano and gave up and nobody cared. What kind of a world is this?
We bought Michael a guitar over lock down and he played a bit when we got it but then stopped. He’d had some lessons in school pre-Covid and expressed an interest so we got it for him as a possible lock down hobby but it just didn’t seem to take. Over the last couple of months though he’s picked it up again without pressure from anyone (my parenting method means I can only have so many irons in the fire and guitar playing is not one of them). I hear him strumming in his room the whole time and he has got immeasurably better without anyone forcing him to practice or making him do lessons.
Point to Mr. Waffle. You will recall that everything is a competition.
*If you are reminded of “This Be the Verse“, please keep your views to yourself.
