Last night I was "helping" Joe-Henry with his piano lessons. I put it in quotation marks because it's only my perspective. From his perspective, it's more like torture. I make him go back and try things again when he doesn't get the timing right. My note reading abilities are rusty (lucky for him), but DAMN I'm good with a beat.
We were about ten minutes in when we got to the part where he had to write a four measure song, so I was going to help him by getting the notes down in the book. I asked him a question about what the first note was, and this is what he did:
He turned very slowly to look at me, sighed, and said in a very patronizing tone"Mom that's not it, why don't you just let me do my work?"
Then he sadly shook his head. AND ROLLED HIS EYES.
Being the grown up that I am, I took it well. I raised my voice a couple octaves and curtly squeaked out "fine. I have lots of other things I can be doing. you can just finish this by yourself." Then I quickly walked off IN A HUFF and got the laundry.
He came to find me slamming wet clothes in the dryer and apologized for hurting my feelings, and I hugged him tight and said it was okay.
But somewhere my parents are nodding and smiling at the sweet feeling of payback.
I wonder if revenge is allowed in heaven?
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3 comments:
that's so great! I mean the bit about him wanting to just do it himself. Also the amazing apology for hurting your feelings.
Not that that's unusual for J-H, just that the thought of me as a child getting past all the anger between me and my mom for long enough to even want to apologize is unimaginable. (pretty sure my payback, were I to have kids, would be unbearable ;) )
I know, I know. I need to step back sometimes and just let him do it. I was trying to help, but I think I'd rather have him ENJOY it.....
And yes, it was an amazing apology. I'm all kindsa lucky.
Oh, this gig called "parenting..." You hear about it when you're young and childless, but you just don't really get it 'til you do it.
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