Claire has been taking piano for 7 weeks, and already is an accomplished pianist... okay, well maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but she really is quite good!
Her teacher suggested they perform a duet together for this weekend's pop concert. I thought for sure Claire would decline, since that is most certainly what I would have done at 8 years old with 7 weeks of piano under my belt. But instead, Claire thought it would be fun! What a girl!
We arrived at the concert and Claire leaned over to me and said, "there are a lot of people here, and teenagers too!" I could see the nerves starting to set in. The teenagers played first, a four-person piece on 2 pianos that was outstanding! Then 2 younger kids played, did well, then Claire.
I could not have been more proud. I knew she was nervous, but no one else did. She stood right up, walked to the piano, and played perfectly! She was forte when appropriate and pianissimo at the right time and finished in perfect timing with her teacher! (The best part, she wasn't actually perfect. The piece called for them to repeat it at the end. I saw her hands go up like she was done, but then she smiled and put her hands back down and got right back into the rhythm. She didn't quit or get flustered or any of the things I imagined happening in my head!) When she was done, she stood up, took her bow and sat back down. After she caught her breath, she leaned over to me and said, "that was really fun mom!"
Oh, you just can't pay for these moments! They only come from the gift of motherhood. Thank you God for these amazing children of mine, of yours, that you let me play with. I am so blessed!
Claire, after the big performance!
Now, for the other child......
After the concert, which Avery sat through playing on the itouch, I couldn't find her at home. It was very quiet, which is never a good thing. I looked upstairs, downstairs, all around, until I finally opened the coat closet. There is Avery, paci in mouth, itouch in hand, watching Max and Ruby.
I don't know what's worse. The fact that she hid in the closet to play with the itouch or that she knows how to use the itouch all by herself!!
