Re: To give up Piano or not to. . . ?

[Guest guest]

RE:Give up. . .

Having a child not have the " opportunity " is hard

enough but to take something away when they are good

at it and enjoy it? On the " possible " chance they

might have to give it up later. . . you ever hear " you

can't take it with you when you go " . . . nothing is

forever. . . life is a constant change whether

" normal " or otherwise.

Sometimes, I believe God does allow us to have to give

up one thing to force us to develop other things; I

know in my case sometimes I wouldn't have tried

certain things except I'd had to quit something else

and it opened a new door!

I didn't have certain opportunities when I was a child

because of obvious difficulties. . . but thankfully my

mother taught me to make the most of the opportunities

that did come to me, for I'd never know where it might

lead and help me in other areas of life! That attitude

has been my best buddy. . .

I just had this conversation with my son; age 10 CMT1X

and molded inserts for weak and rolled in ankles;lots

of pain, cramping and aches after exertion;he is a

typical active 10 year old boy!

He is playing basketball for the first time this year;

he plays his heart out. . and for one with CMT

remember we use about 3 to 4 times the effort for any

given activity; In spite of it, he is one of the best,

though on the B team, being his first year the coach's

practice him with the A team a good bit for they think

he is A team material;

My husband and I really were concerned to let him

play, for " fear " he might have problems giving it up

one day! and if and when that day comes, we will be

there to help him accept and cope with it; But, right

now he is absolutely having the time of his life. . .

and he's learning allot of good things to apply in all

aspects of life! Who's to say he won't become a GREAT

COACH of all times. . maybe he won't and can't be a

player for life but , hey good coach's are needed!

He used to be the fastest runner, had great balance. .

.. and he gets frustrated trying to keep up now. . .

he's running with his upper legs, and slowing down;

But,when I ask him if he thinks he should give it up,

evidently the pain isn't out weighing the pleasure he

gets from it; He still enjoy's basketball, and he

still wants to play; but, he may feel differently in a

week, a month , year or in five years.

He has been the best on his team at Soccer. He's even

thought about it as a " profession " ; should I not

encourage him to be and do all he can because in spite

of his CMT and " might " have to give it up some day;

Who's to say it won't progress any more than it is

right now. . . and if he does have to come to the

conclusion own his own that something else might be

better for him, then he's learning own his own how to

adjust to his abilities and his limits!

The thing to encourage any child or adult to do, is to

have other interests that he/she can go to if one

doesn't work out; It's good for them have some main

focus and something they are great at but don't let it

be " the only thing' in their life! This is when it

will be a very hard thing, depression sets in to stay,

and never can get over; It becomes their identity

instead of their asset or atrribute. Who you are

shouldn't be synonomous with what you DO!

They will feel " life " is over if they have not

developed other things to devert to. Life should be a

well rounded and balanced set of experiences.

Disappointments are part of life whether you have CMT

or not! We all have things happen to us, that we have

to adjust for;

Look at Reeves, he can no longer do what

he once did but he is finding a way to be what he can

be, now! Sometimes, our greatest weakness, can become

our greatest strength!

We have no way of knowing at what age we will have to

stop doing for others or for ourselves or that we ever

will. . so we teach ourselves and our children to live

life with the understanding that it is an adjustment

from time, no matter who you are or what you can or

can't do,and determine what ever state we find

ourselves in to BE the BEST we can be for THIS DAY!

It is discouraging to put so much of oneself into to

something but then to have to let go. . however; we

don't ever achieve our full potentials if we " allow " a

handicap or disability or " life " to get in our way. .

.. I probably would never have hiked the Grande Canyon

if I'd known I had CMT. I or my husband would have

been fearful " I can't or shouldn't it " might " hurt me!

I wouldn't take for the experience. . and the

memories! There is only so much opportunity in life

and it's too short to waste it on fear of what might

never be!

God bless you and your daughter; love her, encourage

her, be proud of her and her accomplishments but don't

ever let her think she is less of a person if she can

no longer do what she used to do.

I always wanted to play the piano and did teach myself

some. . . never had a piano in our home but would play

every chance I got anytime one was around;

I can no longer play because of my weakness and pain

in fingers; over time I've given up oil painting,

drawing, playing the dulcimer, fiddle, teaching

aerobics,teaching school, Management business,

running, walking and recently, volunteering at school.

.. . but I keep finding a way to move on. . . . and no

one, nothing, not even this Blasted disease will take

the MUSIC from my Heart! ~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Love and HUGS

Libby

=====

" I THANK GOD FOR MY HANDICAPS, FOR, THROUGH THEM, I HAVE FOUND MYSELF, MY WORK,

AND MY GOD. " - Helen Keller

" A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to

you when you have forgotten the words. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Living w/CMT http://www.geocities.com/charcot_marie_tooth

" Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. " -Eleanor Roosevelt-

__________________________________________________