With seven kids, it's important to keep them occupied. So we try to make sure that they have something positive to do. For the girls, Teresa and Gabby, it has been easy. They both really like music, so we got them started at the Flint Institute of Music, where they both play violin. Teresa has been playing for 10 years, and Gabby for five. They are both in an orchestra, and they both also play in quartets.


For Matt it wasn't so easy. He has no musical talent whatsoever. We tried karate, but he didn't like that. But he does like the youth group at church. We attend Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic church. They are Catholic, but most of our parishioners are of Lebanese or Chaldean (Iraqi) descent. We are not Middle Eastern at all, but we love the people and the food! Even though Matt is the only white boy in the group, he fits in with the other kids. He has been especially adopted by the Chaldean families.

The little boys are too young to get involved in much without us, although we are letting Mikey and Mark try music at the FIM this summer in their Summer Fun with Strings program where they let kids try violins, violas, and cellos every day for two weeks, and it costs only $50. (That's how our girls got started.)
One thing we all enjoy is shooting. We have bales of straw in the backyard for BB guns. Lisa and the older kids and I like to go out to Williams Gunsight and shoot the real thing. We always stress safety, and they don't get to shoot real guns until they demonstrate consistent safe practices with a BB gun. If they fool around, they immediately lose privileges, and they don't want to do that.
The trick here is not to let the kids get bored. Bored kids are dangerous!
Wow, I wouldn't have pictured you as gun aficionado. Do you have firearms in your home?
ReplyDeleteAre you a member of the NRA?
Beautiful children. I think all youngsters should take up an instrument.
ReplyDeleteI just love the violin.
Sigh. I wish my parents had been a little more involved like you are with your children. I also wish my mother had enrolled me in ballet, the way my aunt did with her daughter, although Mom said it was a waste of time and money. Hmmph. A lot she knows.
ReplyDeleteMy faince and his family love shooting guns as well. They took me to the shooting range and it scared me to death. It was too loud and the knowledge that I was holding something with real bullets in my hand that could kill somebody else or me just freaked me out. Plus, I hated the kick back (now I realize how unrealistic all the shooting is in spy shows on TV). I love the shooting arcade at outdoor world and shooting airsoft guns, but that's it for me!
ReplyDeleteI have my hunting license (from way back when)
ReplyDeletesounds like fun...
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ReplyDeleteA gun is a tool like anything else. If you use it properly, it can't hurt you. If you fool around with it or leave it out for an unauthorized person to pick up, someone will get hurt.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am a proud member of the NRA.