Proud Dad moments...

This week Zach (my 9 year old son) has passed a couple of really significant milestones. These things might not seem significant to many, but they made me so proud of him. Zach is the kind of kid that does not often want to try new things, unless he thinks that he is going to be good at them. This really holds him back sometimes - he is really scared of making mistakes. I try and tell him that it doesn't matter, and everyone makes mistakes... But he finds it hard and stressful.

A while ago Zach chose to enter the races for his swimming school. He has just recently moved into the class where he swims the full length of the pool. He has been going to swimming lessons for ages, but I can finally say that he can swim 'properly'. Anyway, a notice about this race evening got sent home after swimming lessons. I asked Zach if he wanted to participate. He was apprehensive at first, but decided that he would like to do it. I was so pleased that he chose to take part, this was a big step for him.

The race evening was on Thursday. I picked the kids up from school and then we pretty much went straight to the pool. There were so many kids there, and even more adults! The races were streamed by swimming level and were for one, two and four lengths (25 m, 50 m and 100 m) of freestyle and backstroke. Zach entered into the 25 m freestyle and backstroke races. His first race was the freestyle. He was in the race with 9-11 year olds, so was one of the younger kids in the heat, and he did so well. He swam such a consistent pace the whole length. And, he got second! He got a ribbon and everything! I was so proud of him. He also did really well in his backstroke race, but no placing unfortunately. After the races, Zach, Paige and I went out for dinner to Brew'd (Zach's choice) and had a great meal to celebrate.

The other moment this week that made me very proud of this great little guy was that he chose to take part in his music school's end of year concert. Because there is now little or no music taught in Primary schools, a great business in Lower Hutt has decided to fill that niche. The Goodtime Music Academy offer a number of music tuition services in the Wellington region. One awesome innovation is the "Music Bus" which travels around the schools in the region and offers group lessons for drums, ukulele, keyboard and guitar. The bus is all fitted out with all of the instruments and the lessons are held on the bus. It is also reasonably priced at about $11 per 30 minute lesson. The Music Bus lessons are intended to prepare kids for private tuition (which Goodtime also offer), and eventually Band lessons (which they offer as well). Furthermore, they have set up a charity offering free lessons to children in high deprivation areas that would otherwise have no way of experiencing music lessons. I am a big fan of what they do.

Anyway, Zach attends drum lessons each week on the Music Bus (Paige also has lessons, but she learns the keyboard). He has been going for about 2 years and finds it difficult, but enjoyable. When I talk to him about his lessons he says that he really enjoys them, but he swears black and blue that he does not want to be in a band, or perform in public. So when I received the email about the concert and asked Zach if he wanted to take part, he initially said 'no'. A day or two later, I asked him again (he had obviously been mulling it over in his head). This time he tentatively said 'yes'. Not wanting to waste this opportunity, I promptly signed him up and he got to practising! And he actually practised really hard, each day for several weeks.

On Saturday afternoon, Paige and I, and Zach's Grandma and Papa, went along to watch him perform. There were a lot of kids performing that day, not only from the Music Bus, but from the private tuition and band lessons as well. There was some excellent talent on display. Zach's performance was the last one of the afternoon, and I took the liberty of recording it (excuse the fuzzy video, but Zach is the one on the far right at the front). These kids had not practised together at all, so I was so impressed and proud of Zach gave it a go, and that he excelled!

So, I guess that the lesson for this week is to persevere with the kids. Eventually they will come to things in their own time. I was proud of Zach for succeeding, but I was even more proud of him for taking a risk and having a go.

She wore diamonds on the inside...

Wow... what a week! It was a great one for the kids and I. Zach was player of the day for his touch team, Paige celebrated her 7th birthday and I got to see Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals perform live in Wellington.

Zach has been playing touch rugby on Thursday nights for his school team. He really loves it, and is improving all the time. Getting him to try sports has been a little difficult. Zach is the kind of child that is apprehensive when trying new things unless he knows that he can do them. Until now, this has limited his experience. I was really proud that he gave it a go... I know from my own experience that being a part of a team is a great way to learn and grow as a person while having fun at the same time. When I got home from my singing lesson on Thursday evening, Zach was getting into his PJs and held up his 'player of the day' certificate. He was so proud of himself.

It was also a big week for Paige. After months of getting excited, her birthday party finally arrived. She chose to have a sleepover party at home with four of her friends. Whilst this was super exciting for her, it was bloody terrifying for me! But, being the good, well meaning father I am, I put my fear aside and planned her party. The evening started with the School disco, which the girls attended, then they were dropped off at home just after 6 pm. When they arrived, they were so excited... The noise was almost deafening. But soon the pizzas arrived, and they settled down to watch a movie. When they got bored of the movie, they went and all did some drawing. We also had cake (thanks Daily Bread Bakery!).

When it came time for bed, the kids happily snuggled down in their sleeping bags on mattresses in the lounge. I read them a story, and played them some songs (well, that's what Paige's bedtime routine is). I asked the kids "who would like a hug?" All of the girls took me up on the offer. After lights out, there was certainly a whole lot of yapping (mostly instigated by Paige). But after 10:30 they all nodded off. They did wake up at 6:30 am, but that was fine, they were happy. I got up and made them pancakes for breakfast and they played most of the morning. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I had as much fun as the girls did!

And the highlight of my weekend came on Sunday evening. A couple of months ago I saw that Ben Harper (one of my favourite modern artists) was coming to Wellington, so I promptly snapped up two tickets without having someone to go with. I was confident that I'd find someone to go with, be it a friend or a date. As it turns out, I managed to find a date for the evening.

We started the evening with dinner at Zibibbo (well worth a visit, Wellington people!), where we chatted over some great food. We then headed to the venue, and arrived just as the support act began his set.

Ben Harper's support act is a guy from Auckland called Miller Yule, and his five-piece band. They played a number of quite folky / country songs. My date and I thought he was great. He had a great voice, and his band were really good.

After Miller finished his set, there was a short break. Then Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals came on. Wow... Just wow! They were amazing. He played a great mix of his old songs and his new songs (mostly old songs, though). Ben's voice was great, and his band were very good indeed. Particularly his percussionist, who played bongos (and a Djembe at one point)... This guy had the biggest smile on his face the entire night.

The audience were right into it as well. There were so many people up dancing in their seats (my date and I included). It was just great fun. At one point Ben ditched his microphone and sang to the crowd without any amplification. It was a great moment - well done that man - and well done Michael Fowler centre (the acoustics are fantastic in there).

All up, I am really lucky to have the opportunity to attend events like this. Best Sunday I've had in a long time.

So, I guess that the moral of the story this time, is I am doing a good job with the kids, even if it does not feel like it every day. It's important to enjoy the good moments in life, and to celebrate successes.