Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Finding Our Rhythm

My youngest daughter who is six has just recently started taking piano lessons.  I took lessons for years when I was younger, but was never "musically inclined."  It never came easily to me.  However, I do know the basics and can play few tunes.  So, over the weekend, I sat down with her to practice.  Currently, she is learning the difference between quarter notes (which get one beat) and half notes (which get two beats).  As I helped her, we discussed counting the beats and finding the rhythm.

As I thought back on it, it seemed a bit paradoxical because we haven't quite found the rhythm of fall and school just yet.


This Labor Day weekend, we said good-bye to summer.  My kids had a full week of school last week, so this long weekend was kind of like an encore - an extra little bonus.  We enjoyed our lazy mornings and spent some time splashing in the pool.  (Time that was slightly marred when my oldest took a nasty tumble on the concrete pool deck - but, that's another story.)  We held that last note of summer just a little bit longer.

Now, we are back in the groove of school with no rest in sight for quite a while.  Summer's song has ended and the music of Fall is in the air.  We are still re-adjusting to new bedtimes, early mornings, homework, and extracurricular busyness.  Things are still a little off-key and we haven't really found our harmony.

As I told my sweet Emily by the piano, though, practice makes perfect!  We will continue to plunk out the notes and, eventually, they will get smoother.  There will be crescendos and lulls, long notes and short ones.  Over time, we will hit the right keys and find the correct tempo.  We'll find our rhythm and  dance to the music of the school year.

And, before we know it, we'll be singing summer melodies once again.

So long for now, summer!  It's been fun!

15 comments:

Stephanie Sprenger said...

That is the perfect metaphor for this time of year! I was just commenting to someone that I struggle with this transition so much- we are NOT in the swing of things yet. Sweet post, Lisa, and it made me think I may want to start my 2nd grader on piano this year. Is it time? I don't want to admit that she's old enough, but I started when I was 8, so it probably is!

Martha said...

Drat! Discus just lost my comment!! Well... what I said (more eloquently, I'm sure!) was that I'm right there with you. We haven't found our rhythm yet either. Summer is hard to say good-bye to!

Robin Kramer | Pink Dryer Lint said...

We haven't quite found our rhythm yet, either, but I love hearing that others are in the same position. Soon, I'm sure, we'll all have this new routine down, and our home "songs" are going be moving at the right tempo.

Hope that your daughter is okay after her fall! Ouch!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Stephanie! I actually started when I was 8 as well, but as I said, it didn't come easily for me. My daughter is only six and I was a little concerned about her starting so early, but, according to her teacher this is the prime time. :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Martha! It certainly is hard to say good-bye!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks you Robin! It is comforting to know that we are not alone in our struggles! (And Rachel is o.k., though still a bit sore.)

Tamara Bowman said...

Such a cool way to link the rhythm of music with the rhythm of life. We are so off key over here. I missed the school's first work night. I missed "Visiting Day." I will arrive at the potluck lunch on Friday, but will I be able to orchestrate a dish to contribute? I sure hope so.

Janine Huldie said...

You said this quite perfectly and here we have this one more weekend. My girls are both in pre-school and don't start until next Tuesday and only have a 1/2 hour on Monday where they meet the teacher. But I know what you mean and we are truly on borrowed time right now and the clock is ticking for summer is truly just about over and done for this year.

The Dose of Reality said...

I feel like we totally started to find our back to school groove last week and then have lost it again this week...kids were out Monday and are out today, too. I need like 3 FULL weeks of school so I can get my mojo back again! ;)-Ashley

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yes! Last week,I said we would find it this week. This week my hubby has been out of town and the kids till haven't really gotten any homework, so we're still trying to get there!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Janine!!!

Rhonda @wine-y-wife said...

My oldest started school yesterday and my youngest doesn't start until Monday. It will take us a while for find our own rhythm too. It's funny how we were in such a groove, we loved the routine and I didn't want anything to upset our schedules, but as soon as summer rolled around we threw it all out the window. Now I look at last years schedules like they are crazy things that we have to shove our lives back into. I wonder how long it will take for us to embrace the schedules again. :)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Hopefully, it won't take either of us too long to find our rhythm again!

Rachel @TaoOfPoop said...

I know you will find your rhythm, Lisa. Just like your daughter. I love how you found such meaning in your daughter's piano lessons!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thank you Rachel! Although I am not musically inclined, I have always found music to be inspirational. :-)

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