tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-326781648220704566.post8363990427704566398..comments2014-01-10T08:36:56.411-08:00Comments on Always a "good day" at Casa Buendia: The Simple Woman's DaybookFrau Guten Taghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16653229285252138595noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-326781648220704566.post-55332986405158689892010-10-29T10:48:58.700-07:002010-10-29T10:48:58.700-07:00Well unfortunately Christmas is stressful for us t...Well unfortunately Christmas is stressful for us this year, especially financially. I've always been the type to do my shopping early, really early, like in October, & then sit back & relax & enjoy the season. Hubby has always been the type who waits til the last minute to shop. We usually compromise & do it somewhere between those two timeframes, usually early December, but with finances the way they are I know it's gonna end up being last minute mostly. We need more time to pinch together money to be able to do our shopping. And then of course property tax is due at the same time, arrrggghhhh!!!!<br /><br />As for musical instruments, I'm not sure really, but I'm sure gonna do my best. I always remember my mom saying it was important for us to learn an instrument. I was the youngest. My sister took piano lessons, my brother took guitar lessons. My mother kept telling me I had to choose an instrument. I remember wanting organ in the beginning & then later guitar. My mother seemed stuck on me learning piano. She had my sister start teaching me when I was about 5 or so. My sister only taught me very basic stuff & then left me to entertain myself with that. I did just that for the next 5 years & then I stole my brother's guitar & lesson books & taught myself guitar with that. Unfortunately I never got professional lessons on any instrument & I wish so badly that I had. So I definitely want Lil J to get professional lessons, that is something worth spending money on. I do seem to remember my mom nagging my brother & sister to practice, so I know it's not easy, but I do think it's worthwhile. <br /><br />I feel strongly about it even moreso now as I look at my stepson. He's in the teen years & has NO hobbies whatsoever. He is always bored & complaining about being bored & just fills that void with video games, internet, & TV, which I think is appalling. I look back on my own childhood & I realize that it's easy to be entertained when you're a young child, playing with toys is easy entertainment, but I think it's important to also develop hobbies that will carry through into the teen years & even beyond. As I look back on my own childhood I can see that I just happened to do that, I don't think my mother planned it that way at all. I do realize that back in my day we didn't have quite as much mindless technology that kids have today--computers, ipods, etc. I see a mentality in kids today that they expect to just sit back & be entertained, which is actually sad to me. I think back on my teen years & I remember reading, playing guitar, gardening, & learning how to cook. None of this was forced upon me by my mother, it's just what I did to fill to the time. I guess I did watch TV & listen to music, but it certainly wasn't all I ever did, although cable tv & the ability to record things & have things on DVDs have made that even more possible today.Frau Guten Taghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16653229285252138595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-326781648220704566.post-45077989375923591212010-10-29T04:29:45.337-07:002010-10-29T04:29:45.337-07:00I am SO HAPPY to be getting ready for Christmas, a...I am SO HAPPY to be getting ready for Christmas, as every year it's usually stressful right up to the end. NOT this year! LOL! <br /><br />I would so love your insights on learning a musical instrument. My 7yo Preston is taking violin, and getting his daily practice in is a bear. He still wants to continue though! LOL! (((((HUGS))))) sandiSondrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00129612578192867606noreply@blogger.com