Family Life

POST OF AN OLD DRAFT. Originally dated Monday, April 14, 2008. Debbie recently took Daniel to a piano concert at the central library. He’s learning to play, and she wanted him to see the talent and abilities of a concert-caliber musician. Besides, she wanted to attend the concert herself, and “furthering Daniel’s education” was a [...]

Daniel is learning to play the piano, and he’s learning to read. One thing he’s learned of music is that when a note is followed by a dot it is three beats long. He has to name the notes and count while he plays. So playing a piece goes something like, “A, B – two [...]

These days Daniel flies into a fit of rage at the slightest provocation, usually when he doesn’t get his own way. The unusual thing is not that it happens, but that it’s so extreme. The cause can be the most innocuous thing imaginable, such as giving him an orange vitamin pill when he wanted a [...]

Last century my mother tried to teach me to play the piano. I’m sad to say I had no interest whatsoever, and after endless frustration on both our parts she gave up. I can’t rightly say I gave up, seeing as I never really tried in the first place. Looking back, I wish I’d put [...]

Debbie took Joel grocery shopping today, while I stayed home with Daniel and Micah. Micah was in bed having a nap, so I was essentially alone with Daniel. He had me all to himself, a rare occurrence. Joel and Micah are very demanding of my attention, while Daniel is the most self-sufficient of the three [...]