Yesterday was the final piano recital for our kids in Georgia. They’ve had a good run, with a good instructor. We went through a couple of bad instructors to get to Dustin – it’ll be hard to find a new one with as much “connection” to the kids (he was really broken up that we were moving).
Piano has been such a great thing for the kids. It’s so wonderful to see their progress. When we were at the recital, I watched about a 7 year-old kid climb on to the stool and play his “Yankee Doodle” for mom, dad, and the grandparents. It reminded me so much of Kendall and his first recital – and now he’s the older kid, playing at the end of the recital, providing that “goal” for all of the little kids… They’re both doing so well at it – we have folks at every recital come up to the kids and congratulate them on their talent, and on their presence. Both of them exude this confident, self-assured attitude while sitting at the bench. In confidence, Kendall told me he was nervous – but I assured him that he was the only one who could tell he wasn’t thoroughly overjoyed to be in front of all those people… He felt better. I could also see that Kiana was taking so much from the overall situation – she knows nothing different from “just doing it” – I hope that balances, even slightly, all of the coming teenage angst and awkwardness of a girl’s early teen years.
So good to watch them. I hope that music remains a part of their lives.
Now both kids have a cell phone. Kendall has had one for about a year, and I have to say it’s come in quite handy. He’s done a great job of managing the use of his phone, and controlling the urge to use the phone inappropriately (whether time of day or types of downloads). We got Kiana a cell phone this week, and we gave it to her last night, as a part of the end-of-school-year celebration. 
