Parenting, Purpose, and a Piano

Oh, the funny and slightly questionable ways we parents sometimes try to live out our unfulfilled dreams through our unsuspecting children. We've all heard those stories of parents who push their kids into soccer, dance, or spelling bees, relishing in their victories as if they were their own. Well, I am not immune to that desire that resides inside many of us parents. You see, I always wanted to be a pianist. I thought that was going to be my purpose in life. As a young child I was fascinated with Beethoven. He and I shared the same birthday. As a child I fell in love with “Fur Elise” while watching a “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I imagined myself playing Beethoven concertos with such grace and finesse that I would make the piano keys weep tears of joy. Unfortunately, life had other plans for me, and my dream of tickling the ivories remained unfulfilled.

Enter my 6-year-old son. He had no clue what was about to hit him when I enrolled him in piano lessons. I was convinced that I had found the perfect solution to my own musical shortcomings. My son, oblivious to my ulterior motives, did not at first embrace the idea with the enthusiasm. He didn't appear to share my excitement about playing the piano, but I tried my best not to push him less he rejected piano altogether and hate it.

As he started his lessons he struggled through each session and I felt helpless since I have no clue how to read music and I can't play any instrument in the world. However, one day I decided to try something different. I began to find the music from his lesson book on the internet, then listen to it myself to learn how the music was supposed to sound. Then together, we would sit at the piano, his little fingers stumbling over the keys while I closed my eyes and listened, living vicariously through every awkward note he played. If it didn’t sound like what I heard on the internet, we would keep practicing until it did.

As the weeks went by, my son's progress was astonishing. He went from not knowing the difference between a whole note and a quarter note to reading sheet music. More importantly, he began to enjoy playing the piano.

Now, some might call it living vicariously through your kids, but I like to think of it as a beautiful symbiotic relationship. My son gets to explore his own passions and talents while inadvertently allowing me to experience a taste of the music I always longed for. It's a win-win, really.

So, to all you parents out there who find solace in your children's pursuits, fear not. Embrace those moments of shared triumphs and hidden ambitions. Sometimes our purpose in life evolves into something greater than we ever imagined - as our child's mentor. And who knows, maybe, just maybe, you'll find a way to live out a part of your own dreams through the brilliance of your offspring. And if not, at least you'll have a front-row seat to the most incredible piano recitals in the neighborhood.