The Importance of Parents

It is amazing the difference that parents make in a child's life. As I teach my piano lessons, I insist that the parents be actively involved in their children's music education. They sit in on the lessons and are held accountable for their children's practice time.

I can tell exactly which parents are really involved in their children's music education. Those children make quicker progress, know their songs better, and are more confident.

I think sometimes we forget that our children are children. We expect them to be self-motivated. We are surprised when their not. Kids get bored. When something feels new it is fun and exciting and wonderful. But as the newness wears off they can get bored. Or when something gets difficult they can get discouraged.

It is interesting to see how parents handle this. Our natural instinct is to think that something is wrong. Or maybe this music program isn't as fantastic as we thought. What we lose sight of is that in any long-term venture we go through highs and lows. How many of us have had perfectly blissful marriages or careers where we never felt bored or discouraged or thought of quitting?

Of course children will go through this too. And as parents, we have a responsibility and a great opportunity. We can teach our children how to weather the lows without quitting. What kind of an impact can that have on a child's future? How much better prepared for life's ups and downs will our children be if they are trained to make it through some lows without quitting when they are young?

I believe that by training our children in this way we are helping to develop into their characters qualities like integrity, determination, and perseverance. That is where success comes from.