Funny Christmas story...

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:34 am

My girlfriend's son, Sam has been watching me play guitar and has been showing interest in it alot lately, and I noticed he was getting kind of jealous because I'm giving his cousin (Joan's sister's boy, Jack) guitar lessons. So Joan and I thought maybe he might want a guitar, so I found a really nice Mini Strat that Tornandfrayed (Dave) had, so I bought it for Sam.
I used my old Jackson box to put it in and wrapped it up.

This morning he came out to unwrap his presents, and immediately saw the big box, so he went over to that one and ripped it open. He was really excited to get a guitar and was so happy. It made me smile to see the look on his face.

Then he opened up some more gifts and ran across his Nintendo DS (the new version of a Gameboy), and after he opened the rest of the presents he immediately forgot about everything except for the Nintendo DS!

Kinda sucks cause we got him everything that he had written down on his list too.
He was absorbed into that Nintendo all morning and all afternoon!
I'm not disappointed, cause I know he's a kid, but I kinda thought it was funny that he was all about that guitar until he found the DS.

So now I guess I'll have to wait until the novelty wears off and maybe I can begin teaching him some stuff.
What can ya do?

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:36 am

"You get one hour of DS playtime for every chord you learn today"

Wouldnt worry about the DS alone, its how many games you got'm. After he beats that one it came with, he might pickup the guitar. Just hold off on buyin games

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:38 am

Haha!

Then he really wont wanna learn.
You gotta meet this kid sometime Colton. He's all good to go, until he has to do something, then he's against the grain...
Wait, I guess thats every kid aint it?

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:40 am

DS's today are like what the atari 64, nintendo, and sega genesis was to us when we were kids.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:43 am

Yeah I'm realizing that. I dont follow gaming systems that much and I didnt even know what a DS was until a few weeks ago.

We got him some games for his Nintendo Wii also, but he only unwrapped the gift paper off and didnt even open them up.
Maybe later on when he gets bored?
Just watching him this morning made me laugh, I wish you guys could have seen the situation unfold, cause it was funny to see. I cant put it to words exactly, but maybe you get what I'm sayin...

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:53 am

My son plays his guitar so well at times, I think he might get really good. Then he gets a new Xbox 360 game and I don't hear the guitar for a week or so. His friends come over to jam and they end up playing the Xbox 3 times longer than the jamming.

He got Warhammer for his PC, and the guitar will be ignored I'm sure.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:40 am

Sometimes you have to gently push it onto him.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:02 am

I got my boy his first guitar ( mini ) when he was 5 and he had an interest but not much drive to pick it up and practice. He plinked around on it but never wanted to learn cords, I got him a 3/4 then when he was about 9 and he played it a little but just single line stuff. So I got him a bass and he didn't have to worry about cords. Now at 15 he plays pretty good and him and his buddys have a band that sound pretty good. He still won't learn the fundamentals though.
All kids are different, there's a good chance he'll get to it.

CMOR · Post by **CMOR** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 6:05 pm

My stepdaughter just started playing bass. She came to me for lessons on her own terms. Bass wasn't something I pushed for(not that I'm complaining). She practices with my stuff but my parents got her an amp for Christmas so she can take it with her.
I'll teach her right, the world needs more competent bass players. Wife's not thrilled to have two in the same house some times, I think.

CHICKSINGA · Post by **CHICKSINGA** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 6:49 pm

I've never let our son Chase have any video games until Wii came out. I only bought that because it gets you off the couch and it's interactive. I expect him to go outside and play (we are blessed to live in the woods), and he does. I didn't know if this was good or bad. I was just trying to give him a childhood similar to ours. I do notice that he seems less technically "apt" than other kids his age and in this world I suppose that's not an advantage. But he's not as ADD as some, either.

About a month ago my husband set up his Pearls. My hub doesn't play much anymore, but this summer did a show with us when Andrew, our drummer, couldn't and kicked ass. Chase saw Chris play and has been sitting down to the set on his own and going to town. And the boy can play! Is it DNA? Nurturing? Not sure. But it makes me happy! (one thing's for sure - no Guitar Hero or Rock Band at the Baker Hacienda!)

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 7:17 pm

CHICKSINGA wrote: I expect him to go outside and play (we are blessed to live in the woods), and he does. I didn't know if this was good or bad. I was just trying to give him a childhood similar to ours.

That's a good mom, right there. My mother did a bit more than expect us to go outside... it was direct orders! I'm eternally glad she did. I truly love living in the Central PA mountains, and being "forced" outdoors is a huge reason for it. I wasn't allowed on the road outside my house, or even in the neighbors' yards until I was 11 or 12, but I ran on that mountainside as far as I wanted at 7 or 8... many times, Mom would have to honk the car horn to signal me home. I never once got hurt, or lost, or in trouble for anything, and I built forts and rode sleds, and watched deer and squirrel and turkey. To this day, I am perfectly happy just going out into the woods and just sitting and watching it all unfold before me. Plus, when you compare the memory of scoring a million on a video game to seeing a giant whitetail buck snort at you 20 yards away... not even close. Parents, living where we do is a gift. Take your kids outside, and enjoy.--->JMS

witchhunt · Post by **witchhunt** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 7:20 pm

Did you ever run across any inbred hillbillies?

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:00 pm

My kids are home schooled and part of what they learn on a regular basis is music. My 9 year old is getting pretty good at guitar and drums and they play everyday. It is important to my wife and I so it is part of their curriculum.

I think that the boy will pick the guitar up because he has music all around him. If he has it in him at all it will come out, especially with you guys encouraging him. If he doesn't well, he doesn't...

I hope all turns out the way you hope.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:04 pm

Our 14 year old has to earn game time. Usually he has to do something like all of the dishes, take care of the dog, and garbage to earn one hour of game time. This game time counts towards computer/internet, xbox, DS, etc. If we are traveling, he can take his DS with him and play while we are on the road.

There for awhile, we had a chore sheet that he had to follow to earn time...over time, we got rid of the listing. He doesn't play that often especially compared to his friends.

Speaking of his friends...you would be amazed at how many of them are shocked to find out he has chores because they don't have to do anything at home.

Got him an electric guitar last year for xmas...was a last minute addition to his wish list....he's barely played it.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:09 am

Well, today (as his DS was charging up) he plugged that guitar in and was messig around with it for about 20 minutes or so.
Seems he might have more interest than I initially thought. I also got a "Y" adapter to plug 2 guitars into 1 input, so then we can play them toether until we can find a small amp for him to use himself.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 4:07 pm

witchhunt wrote:Did you ever run across any inbred hillbillies?

Just in Bedford Co.

No, there are a few of those wherever you go. For the record, I love Bedford County, too. I try to get down to the area behind Bedford Springs every fall, beautiful farmland and foliage, though a lot of outsiders are building McMansions back there now.
We had an area of Trough Creek Valley in Hunt. Co. the locals called Varnerville. Everybody had red hair and the same last name. Made you wonder how ELSE that could've happened.

--->JMS