Akash and I have infinite patience when it comes to creative expression, evidenced I might add, by the crayoned walls! So if you want to bang out a tune on the djembe, or try out a little ditty on the guitar or sing out a song at the top of your voice, our home is where you have all the freedom to do it!
You can sing the same line or song over and over and over and over again, and be guaranteed no-one will yell at you to stop. You can add sound effects to just about ANY activity and no-one will yell at you to stop. As long as you're exploring your creative repertoire, it's all good! I'm not sure that patience is extended to other areas of parenting but with music and art, we've gotten that right (or so believe).
Shabd is blessed to have been born into a musical family. At the age of 2 and a half, he already has his own "Shabd sized" djembe, guitar, keyboard and harmonica. We encourage him to experiment through play and positive reinforcement. We support with plenty of "Bravo Shabby!" and lots of applauding! And we hope to send him for music classes when he's old enough to be accepted.
It should be noted however that while I have great hopes, dreams and aspirations for his musical career, I've been informed that I'm unfortunately no good at music.
I often sing along to the radio while driving and just as I'm hitting those crucial high notes, "And Iii- eee - iiii....will always love you, ooohhh oohhh, will always..." a little voice pipes up from the backseat, "What are you doing Mummy?" "I'm singing Shabby" say I ever so sweetly. "No. Don't. Pappa is better." he says in his most sternest voice and face. "Yeah I know," say I, "but I like singing too." To which I get a very curt reply, "No Mummy, Pappa is the strongest. Okay." And just so I clarify for you here, by "okay" what Shabd really means is - end of discussion okay.
Obviously I'm crestfallen at having been told that I don't stand a chance next to Pappa. But I know I'm a good dancer, so as soon as we return home I switch on the radio and invite Shabd to dance along with me. I'm unfortunately met with an incredulous "What are you doing Mummy?" to which I reply "I'm dancing Shabby. Come join me. Come on." "No," he firmly replies, "I don't like dancing." and saunters off to play with his cars leaving me alone on the dance floor!
If I cast my mind back, in the 2 and half years Shabd has walked this Earth, he has never enjoyed dancing. So in all fairness, after having dismally failed as being a credible singer, maybe proving my prowess as a dancer was doomed to be met with disapproval, right?
Surely he's too young to be embarrassed by me I think to myself as Shabd hums a U2 song while playing with his cars. Righ?!
Auw! He certainly is opinionated... which isn't a bad thing. I have a sneaky feeling that when Simran is older, she will show a keen interest in dancing and because I have two left feet and absolutely no rhythm, I think Simran will be visiting you a lot!
ReplyDeleteDon't let that discourage you V! He is still very small, and still has plenty to learn and explore.. and you are SOO talented that he is bound to come to you to learn some form of art.. am very sure of that.. :-)
ReplyDeleteTake my daughter for those dancing times. Send Akash and Shabd to me so we can start our own band!
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