Readiness

I am constantly challenged (in a good way!) by my youngest students and their parents.

Every child is different and every child learns in his/her own way and in their own time. This means that every single lesson, with every beginner child, can be completely different. The product and intention is the same, but how it is executed has everything to do with the child and parent dynamic.

Over the years I've searched for a magic formula for both myself and parents that will bring success to every lesson and practice. But when dealing with children so young, the missing ingredient is sometimes readiness. If the stage has been set and the parent is encouraging, modelling and observing, if they are playing the recording and establishing daily practice at home, all we can do is keep encouraging and wait for the child to be ready.

This is the Suzuki method and this is parenting.

We teach our babies to walk and talk not by nagging them about it or demanding they practice right now OR ELSE! We constantly encourage and praise and love them whether they make 10 steps across the room or just one. We wait for our children to say mama or dada for the first time. We have no control over when they will be ready to do these skills. All we do have control over is the environment we set for them and the amount of encouragement, praise and support we give them.

Although I remind my parents of young ones this as much as I can, I very easily forget to remind myself of this in my own life. I get discouraged easily when things do not play out how I imagine them to go and it becomes all to easy to say that practice or whatever activity just isn't going to happen today because it isn't happening how was is intended to. Sometimes it's not just about is the child ready for practice, but is the PARENT. 

When we can be realistic about our expectations as parents, rather than just giving up and feeling guilty that the day didn't go as planned, we can be strategic and set the best example for our kids, and the best mentality for ourselves. When I find I get off track, I stop and remember these two strategies:

1. Improvise and start with the absolute minimum - just because it's not what I planned, doesn't mean nothing can get done. It's better to do even the smallest amount rather than nothing at all.

2. Don't be so hard on myself - at the end of the day, if a practice session was missed, I CHOOSE to not beat myself up about it, and to just get back into routine tomorrow.

I think these two strategies are important whether we are parents of a 2 year old or parents of a teenager. They are even important whether we are an individual adult or teenager (with parental guidance) setting our own personal goals in violin or in life.

With that in mind, let's get ready for 2019 Violin Lessons! Looking forward to seeing you all next week and setting some goals for the NEW YEAR!

What Did You Accomplish in 2018?

I am constantly trying to find a balance between being in the present and working towards the future and this year I have pulled my life apart and developed a new understanding of what I have, who I am, what I've been through and where I'm headed.

Just like when we were talking about motivation in class, when there are things in my life I know I have to do and should do especially if it involves others, that is the motivation itself and it gets done. When it comes to finding motivation to do something just for me, that is something else entirely. As much as my two year old little monster has motivated me initially to make some changes, I am finding commitment and an inner motivation to keep going with personal challenges.

As I look back on the year, here are some of the things I am so grateful to have been present for:

• Seeing Margaret be a One Year Old
• Went to Newfoundland and climbed Gros Morne Mountain
• Performed incredible shows with the Fiddle Class and Celtic Shift
• Ran 2 half marathons
• Completed a 16km Tough Mudder Obstacle Course
• Started REALLY practicing violin, piano and step again with new strategies and goals in mind (this has been a game changer - check out some clips of what I've been working on on Instagram).

Look back at YOUR year, last month, or even the last week or day. Are you making time to do all the things that mean something to you? It is always possible and it is importantly possible. What small changes can you make to do something you've always wanted to do but put at the bottom of the list? When we better ourselves, we better the lives of our children.

Happy New Year! Let's see what we can accomplish in 2019!