I felt bad we couldn't afford more projects to help our contractor who did our bathroom. I feel bad that our 'help' to our electrician friend probably was a pebble in a bucket and now I'm wanting to help a kid out across the street because his family can't afford lessons for him and he really wants to take them. I gave him a ride home today after school clubs while I was dropping my son off for music lessons
And this one is the one the that is the hardest for me. He's 12 or 13, he plays the same instrument as my son. He currently is last chair in the top band (he's been playing for 3 years). My son is top chair in the lower band and he just started in September. My son just started taking private lessons at the band teacher's suggestion. This kid across the street can't and he says he really wants to but they don't have the money.
Most likely scenario? Come May when they do the yearly chair placement, my son will bump him out of the top band spot and not because of more determination or even talent, but because we can afford private lessons.
Of course, I want my son to succeed and be in the top band, but not like that. I'm seriously considering paying for this kid'sprivate lessons. If my son beats him out of the spot, I want it to be because he deserves it. Not because the other kid is too poor for lessons. And, It's those little things that can make a difference - someone who cared and helped them out in little ways that can help a kid pull through and do better not just THEN but for life. It can give him more hope... I know... been there.
But at the same time, we are 'cash poor' right now too. To buy new things, we are selling the old. We're not taking a vacation this year and are selling the 'second best' car now that we have a new one and holding onto the beater. I'm feeling so bad that I can't save the world, that I can't even really afford $80 a month to help another kid out. His parents are working two jobs each, they are the sweetest people, but they are immigrants and they are putting everything to their kid's future, but it's not enough.
It hurts me because I was there. I was that kid with musical talent, but came from a family on welfare (and they aren't on welfare). My band director every year would tell my mom and me that if I could get lessons... and piano... but even paying for music was a luxury let alone lessons.
In the end I was still pretty good, I still got univ. scholarships, but it felt horrible to see those less talented, who cared less, get the new horn instead of the rented one and lessons they hated and while I was 'OK' I probably could have been great. It's like the only talent I had, but had no means to pursue it.
Ugh... and if I help this kid, it won't stop there. I want to help everyone I know because we are doing OK while other good people are not, but I can't do it all...
but this thing with the kid is breaking my heart. But then, he has a brother a year older... I would hate leaving him out too... ugh..
And this one is the one the that is the hardest for me. He's 12 or 13, he plays the same instrument as my son. He currently is last chair in the top band (he's been playing for 3 years). My son is top chair in the lower band and he just started in September. My son just started taking private lessons at the band teacher's suggestion. This kid across the street can't and he says he really wants to but they don't have the money.
Most likely scenario? Come May when they do the yearly chair placement, my son will bump him out of the top band spot and not because of more determination or even talent, but because we can afford private lessons.
Of course, I want my son to succeed and be in the top band, but not like that. I'm seriously considering paying for this kid'sprivate lessons. If my son beats him out of the spot, I want it to be because he deserves it. Not because the other kid is too poor for lessons. And, It's those little things that can make a difference - someone who cared and helped them out in little ways that can help a kid pull through and do better not just THEN but for life. It can give him more hope... I know... been there.
But at the same time, we are 'cash poor' right now too. To buy new things, we are selling the old. We're not taking a vacation this year and are selling the 'second best' car now that we have a new one and holding onto the beater. I'm feeling so bad that I can't save the world, that I can't even really afford $80 a month to help another kid out. His parents are working two jobs each, they are the sweetest people, but they are immigrants and they are putting everything to their kid's future, but it's not enough.
It hurts me because I was there. I was that kid with musical talent, but came from a family on welfare (and they aren't on welfare). My band director every year would tell my mom and me that if I could get lessons... and piano... but even paying for music was a luxury let alone lessons.
In the end I was still pretty good, I still got univ. scholarships, but it felt horrible to see those less talented, who cared less, get the new horn instead of the rented one and lessons they hated and while I was 'OK' I probably could have been great. It's like the only talent I had, but had no means to pursue it.
Ugh... and if I help this kid, it won't stop there. I want to help everyone I know because we are doing OK while other good people are not, but I can't do it all...
but this thing with the kid is breaking my heart. But then, he has a brother a year older... I would hate leaving him out too... ugh..