Dear god, I can see the path of my life mapped out before me

[MyFeatheryHat]

I am currently sitting in a gloomily lit cafe waiting for DS to take his guitar exam. The exam centre is in what can only be described as a music warehouse. It is warm and bright, loud and populated by endlessly cheery and earnest rock types, interspersed with the occasional moody teenager. DS looks like he has died and gone to heaven, whereas it's only the tea and cake that have prevented me from curling up in the corner and weeping.

DS is already chirping away about coming back with his friend, sadly they are only 10 and will need a lift to get here. I'm doomed to a life of weekends spent staring mournfully at row upon row of guitars and drum kits aren't I?

Can't you read a book?

Not a life, no.

When he's a little older he won't want you there. Make the most of it and find something about it to enjoy.

Aghh - stop yer whingin'.

Be happy that your son has a hobby that he is enthusiastic about.

How bad! at least you can get tea and cake.
Try waiting outside in the car in all weathers...

Sounds quite civilised - swap you for junior football!

I used to complain about Sunday's in Stockport Costa waiting for dance/musical rehearsals to end

Now ds is away at school I long for the dance days as its football with ds instead (that's cold & uncomfortable)

Yes, on reflection it's at least indoors :o
marshy this place is on an industrial estate (very wisely I think!) so I will be required to be the driver, even if my actual physical presence is not required.
TBH I'm slightly wrong footed by the sheer size and scale of the place- our local music shop is about 1/100 of the size. There are bands practising in the studios, real life proper bands

Well cake sounds good.

Just be grateful he's not into dance. Some dance parents (mainly mothers) can be very, um, focused. I was jolly relieved when dc lost interest. (Lessons frequently clashed with parties.)

My ds is 17. He's driving.

7 years might seem like a lifetime. It really isn't. They are independent for far longer than they need you and that is fantastic. But I do miss a lot of what being 10 involved - including Sunday football no tea and cake

endlessly cheery and earnest rock types - I don't even know why that's so funny! Well, I sort of do - it's the contrast with death metal thrasher power violence types.....

On a serious note - please ensure he wears ear defenders if playing loud stuff. The irresponsible studio staff who don't bother checking or provide ear defenders give me the rage. The incidence of tinnitus is on the increase by a huge percentage. There's no cure for it.

Also, if he's musical I'd encourage him to also play an orchestral instrument.

I had years of Drama, ballet, flute and riding lessonsa and as we live rurally I always had to be the taxi and stay for the lesson (2 hours for drama).

I took things to read and used to actually look forward to a bit of piece and quiet!

After a weekend of being mum's musical taxi I console myself with the thought that it's far better than being stood on a touchline in the rain. I get to sit down, in the warm, and have tea and biscuits.

The musical thing sounds really interesting op. Have a walk around - you might get to join in. Find your inner rock chick!

I spend hours late in the evening outside theatre doors - the joy of having a DD who is into musical theatre. Oh and when I am not outside theatres I spend hours filling forms applying for local authority performance licences.

Performance licences - I remember it well.

So much simpler now that dd does everything at school.

Why an orchestral instrument choccoluvva?

Guitars lead to sex and drugs and rock and roll.

Orchestral instruments lead to school and youth orchestras - fun residential weeks, broadening of musical horizons.

As a rough generalisation obviously .

We send my guitarist daughter away for residential rock music courses in the holidays - means she gets the group experience, on top of her regular classes, without adults having to do any ferrying and hanging around :)

It's not a bad idea for a serious guitarist to have a second instrument - my DD plays piano and sax (and bass, but that doesn't count apparently)

How many professional orchestral musicians do you know?

The ones I know could beat any rock musicians hands down at sex drugs and rock n roll

But they are nowhere near as bad as traditional musicians, especially bagpipers.

Not just professional, mawbroon. As a sheltered state school teenager I was when I joined the county youth band.

I can see you youth football, and raise you being a parent helper for surf lifesaving (aka standing in the sea usually up to your middle or deeper for an hour or more once a week from April to October, plus competitions/camps etc).

what about jazz musicians?

Can't really comment on the Jazeera because the only ones I know are the ones who ventured into the trad music world and were suitably led astray

WTF? Jazzers Jazzers!

I saw a 'Jazeera' recently who had a beard on only half his face - ear to middle of his chin!

Sex, drugs and rock and roll?

He also plays the oboe so it looks like we have debauchery on all levels covered :o

I only managed to extract him from the drum department as they were closing (I have yet to break this little gem to DH!) We are not at all musical so it's a mystery where this comes from.