How do you De-Stress?

(This was a rare moment where Alec brought down his guitar and played for us!)

No matter how wonderful parents are, teenagers will still seek solace away from the world, in their rooms, usually behind closed doors, for the remainder of their years at home before college (when they are at home!). This does not bother me at all, because as a teen - not too long ago (uh-hem) myself, with wonderful parents of my own, I remember doing the very same thing, and how important it was for me to have that time to myself. If he didn't come out for food, we'd definitely get worried! He needs that time to decompress after a long hard day of school and after a physical and mental day of football practice, among other things that we may or may not know about.

For Christmas, Alec's Uncle Kevin & Aunt Shannon bought him a Takamine Guitar after hearing him play around on Ken's guitar. When he got the guitar, we immediately signed him up for a couple of guitar lessons and reminded him that there were "no strings attached" (pun intended), and that these lessons were just for him, that he could learn the guitar so that he could have something he could come home and de-stress with. With no pressure of performances and practice schedules, the guitar has become his best friend! His instructor has asked us if he could perform, and we've remained faithful to what we told Alec, and told him no, unless he wants to.

As parents who've always pushed Alec to do his best, it has been a good lesson for all of us.

We all need something to do that we enjoy, where there is no pressure to perform, or to perfect...just something we can "lock ourselves in our room" and do for our own enjoyment. I Blog. Ken plays the Piano. Alec plays the guitar - very well I may add! I love to hear him play. He is actually very talented, practically teaching himself the songs he wants to know. You may never see him on a stage, or hear him on the radio, and sorry in advance if you ask him to play for you and he doesn't. However, I do have a couple of video shots of the door with a faint guitar sound behind it....