Melinda - Junior Year
What would Melinda be without music? She would be a sensitive, thoughtful, caring woman who is super bright and a strong leader. Recently, I have thought a fair amount about parenting and what our decisions and actions now mean about our children. What if we hadn't nudged and cajoled and supported her music? What would she have become?
This year, I have seen Melinda the leader. She decided that she wanted to be marching band clarinet section leader.Tough competition - she's a junior in a sea of seniors. She decided she wanted it, and went for it. "What about drum major? You could do that." No. She wanted to march, and play. Those are the things she loves about the activity.
My kids compete for the chance to walk the dog in the afternoon (if I'll go (okay, and only if the weather is nice)) On our walks, I get to see Melinda the introspective. This summer she was all about what she had planned for the section. Got to get the two freshman up to speed on the field. Got to get everyone to learn the music. Got to help everyone with their counting and finding the right spots. Got to keep the senior she displaced motivated and excited about marching. I get to hear about how she thinks she's doing. What she plans to do when she makes mistakes. Notes she's taking for next year so she can do better. Really, I try to walk and listen to her thoughts.
I've also seen the thoughtful, caring woman. Concerned about the kid who is happier practicing with her section than another. "What do I do? Should I let them? Should I tell their section leader?" The woman who wants to make sure she keeps everyone's opinion into account - not just force her will on others. The little girl who walks over and give her old man a hug - just because.
I've seen passion. Both the loud - "I do not want to be forced to do a stupid 'ice challenge' just because everyone else is doing it on Facebook!" and the quiet determined glide-stepping marcher who cares about doing every step the right way.
Really though, I can't separate her from her music. I've seen amazing growth and the passion and the caring about getting it right. Leading her group of seven, her section of 14. Her thirst for leading the big ensemble. One of her favorite things to do each summer is spend a week practicing new music with kids she hardly knows to put on one her best concerts of the year. Her wind quintet. She arranges for herself, for her cousins and for her friends. She loves it. I have no idea where she's going with it, but I believe that you HAVE to support the thing you see in kids like this.
This year, I have seen Melinda the leader. She decided that she wanted to be marching band clarinet section leader.Tough competition - she's a junior in a sea of seniors. She decided she wanted it, and went for it. "What about drum major? You could do that." No. She wanted to march, and play. Those are the things she loves about the activity.
My kids compete for the chance to walk the dog in the afternoon (if I'll go (okay, and only if the weather is nice)) On our walks, I get to see Melinda the introspective. This summer she was all about what she had planned for the section. Got to get the two freshman up to speed on the field. Got to get everyone to learn the music. Got to help everyone with their counting and finding the right spots. Got to keep the senior she displaced motivated and excited about marching. I get to hear about how she thinks she's doing. What she plans to do when she makes mistakes. Notes she's taking for next year so she can do better. Really, I try to walk and listen to her thoughts.
I've also seen the thoughtful, caring woman. Concerned about the kid who is happier practicing with her section than another. "What do I do? Should I let them? Should I tell their section leader?" The woman who wants to make sure she keeps everyone's opinion into account - not just force her will on others. The little girl who walks over and give her old man a hug - just because.
I've seen passion. Both the loud - "I do not want to be forced to do a stupid 'ice challenge' just because everyone else is doing it on Facebook!" and the quiet determined glide-stepping marcher who cares about doing every step the right way.
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