A Mother, Her Boy and His Violin

One of the greatest pleasures I have as a mother is getting to know my children.  I take great joy in listening to them and watching them blossom.  I am constantly seeking to understand who they each are as a person and to respect that.  My Joaquin decided when he was about 5 that he wanted to play the violin.  We put him in a local community group to let him try it out.  He really enjoyed it.  Rodrigo and I then decided it was time for a violin teacher for private lessons.  We began to pray and to save.  In the meanwhile, as we were watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform with their symphony orchestra one Sunday Morning, Joaquin announced to me "I am going to play with them one day."  I told him that was a wonderful goal and that if he worked at it that of course he could.

Heavenly Father led us to the perfect teacher.  She is a beautiful and very talented person not only in music or the violin but in teaching. Joaquin is blossoming as a player under her tutelage. He is motivated and really enjoys playing.  I love to watch him practice and am often in awe as I watch how comfortable he is with this instrument.  It is like an extension of him, part of him.  I believe he has a gift, not to be some virtuoso but a deep familiarity with the violin a spiritual connection.  Last Sunday, a sister in our ward played a violin solo accompanied by the piano.  Joaquin leaned over to me and said, "Mom, maybe you could tell the Bishop that I can play and I'll play 'I Am A Child of God' in Sacrament."  I shook my head and told him yes, maybe I could.

One of the most important things I feel I can do as a Mother is to take note of my children's gifts and talents and then to help them recognize and cultivate them by constant encouragement and support.  Using the tender wisdom of the scriptures...by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned. (D&C 121:41)

ABCDEFG HIJKLMNOP QRSTUV WXY and ZEKE!

This is my Kindergartener.  He just started school a little more than a week ago.  He loves it!  He loves everything about it!  He comes home excited that he has homework.  He sits down immediately after arriving home to do it.  This is my Ezekiel :).  He has started learning one sight word a week and is so eager to learn that last night I found him in his bed, pencil in hand and book open.  When I came in the room to have scripture time and prayer.  He looked up and said, "I'm circling all the "thes" in this book Mom."  I told him what a great job he was doing.  I think I've discovered something significant about my Zeke.  He thrives when he is challenged and when we have set routine. His attitude has been that of an angel since school started.  He is helpful, more obedient, and always smiling with way less drama and let me tell you this boy knows how to do drama :)!!

Last week after Joaquin and Zeke finished baths.  I found them on the floor in their room.  Joaquin was teaching Zeke the skills of a good reader.  I could hear Joaquin saying, "look at the picture.  It will give you clues about the story"  Joaquin was teaching Zeke to read.  They were using "Hop on Pop" and Zeke was so excited.  He called me in saying "I've gotta show you something Mom"  He proceeded to read to me the first 8 pages of the book.  When he would get stuck Joaquin would gently remind him of the skills of a good reader.  By the way, I've always loved Dr. Seuss but recently I'm especially grateful for his work.  He makes every reader feel successful and gives even the most skilled reader a challenge! :)

Something that I have noted between Joaquin and Zeke is a bit of possessiveness.  Zeke has the same teacher that Joaquin had in K, which is exactly what Zeke hoped for and talked about all summer long.  The thing is Joaquin keeps referring to what he did and I hear Zeke saying things like but this is MY paper and MY homework.  He needs for Joaquin to realize that their experiences are similar but that this is uniquely his, "The Zeke" experience.  We all feel that way don't we?  We share similar experiences such as child birth, getting married, the loss of a loved one and even though we are so thankful others have gone through the same thing we want them to understand, to recognize that our experience is uniquely ours.

I love you Zeke!  What a fun adventure we are on!  So glad to be your Mommy and experience all this marvel with you!

Great to be 8

Where has the time gone? 

Last Sunday (Jan. 13,2013) We attended our Stake’s “Great to be 8” program and scheduled the date and time for Joaquin’s baptism.    To say he is excited is truly an understatement!  He listened intently to the speakers and their detailed explanations of what to expect for their baptisms as well as their recommendations of what to do to prepare himself.  One of the highlights for Joaquin was learning that when he turned 8 he not only gets to be baptized but that he will be a cub scout and can begin working on his “Faith in God”.  I so wish I could have taken a picture of his face when he realized this!  He looked over at me with this huge grin and did a little happy dance right there in his seat, reverently of course J

I too am excited for this year as we prepare for his baptism!  Although I was born of “goodly parents” namely my mother and grandmother (my parent’s divorced when I was 4), we didn’t learn of the church until I was almost 10 years old.  I am enjoying so much watching my children grow up with a knowledge of God’s plan and His glorious gospel.  It is a beautiful thing to watch!

In preparation for his baptism Joaquin has made a goal to say his prayers every night before he goes to sleep.  I, of course, could do this for him but he and I both feel it is important for him to learn to remember to say his prayers on his own.  Also, to learn to truly communicate with our Father in Heaven and to find joy in it.  If he can do that now at this young tender age then he will have set a wonderful pattern for his life.  However, it will require work.  Tonight as we were kneeling for family prayer.  I reminded him to say his personal prayers and he looked at me and said, “Do I have to do this all the way until I turn 8?” and I responded with “You have to do this for the rest of your life, prayer is talking to our Father in Heaven.  We should want to do that not feel like it is a chore.”  But at seven, when you are tired and sleepy it’s hard to remember that J  Even at 43 when I’m tired and sleepy it is difficult to remember that.  Must remember it we must!  After this discussion I announced a need for a FHE on prayer.  That shall be coming shortly.

I am Joaquin’s Sunday School teacher as well and so I get to spend the whole year learning with him and preparing.  What a beautiful privilege and blessing!  It is great to be 8 J