Letting Your Kids see You Try… and Fail

I’m learning to play the ukulele. I played the flute in middle school and sang in high school and college so, while I’m not musically ignorant, I know enough to know that I’m also not musically gifted. I’m sure that eventually I’ll be able to play the ukulele well enough to sing a few songs with it, possibly even where other people can hear me, but for now, I am pretty bad at it. Like, can’t imagine how people manage to strum and sing at the same time level. Seriously. All of y’all who make that look easy are doing some kind of magic.

My inclination when I am really bad at something is to hide away with it until I am better. It’s not that I’m ashamed of being bad. I’m not. It’s more that I don’t want other people to have to suffer just because I’m starting from level zero. In our little house, it’s impossible to practice the ukulele without EVERYONE hearing. I mentioned to my husband that maybe it would be better if I practiced in the car or in the writing tent. He thought that was a bad idea and, when he said his reasoning, I agreed. “You never let the children see you fail,” he said.

I don't think that's exactly true, but I totally got what my husband was saying. I probably don't spend time highlighting my setbacks. Celebrating my mistakes. They are a legit part of the journey, but a part that I usually enjoy in private. So while we're all stuck at home, I'm going to take the opportunity to fail loudly. On the ukulele. Hopefully, we'll all be better for it. If not...at least I tried?