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After work I went home and got the wife and kids. We went to Target to pick up Ms Pikachu's pictures. Not only did she get her pictures, but a few packs of Pokemon cards too. It was her payment for practicing piano. You can try to convince her that learning piano is good for her, that no one ever regrets learning an instrument- she won't care. You can tell her that learning an instrument will help her think- she will yawn. You can tell her it helps develop self-discipline- she will tell you she's busy enough. You can demand she stop wasting time and to practice piano- she will tell you she doesn't want to learn the stupid piano. She will not be pressured. She stands like a stone wall, Ms. Stonewall Jackson Pikachu.

It's been frustrating because she's so gifted. It was obvious from her first lesson. Her teacher frequently commented on it. After about a year of lessons her teacher could play a new piece and she could just repeat it. Gifted is gifted, whether she likes it or not. She doesn't like it.


Sometimes compliance is just a matter of finding the right motivator. She would learn for Pokemon cards. She would not be pressured, but she could be bought. That actually simplified things somewhat. If I wanted her to practice or perform an extra household duty, we negotiated the price in Pokemon cards. We also had to agree on when she'd get them. She had become quite a negotiator. She'd try anything, including demanding that she get the cards before practicing. Like I'm a fool. We could agree on a pack to start, and the balance on finishing. I've felt a little uneasy about it sometimes, but it simplified things. The upside is that she learned to negotiate. She won't be intimidated.



Today was the first day in about a year that she practiced. She had grown tired of piano, and refused to practice any longer. Ms. Pikachu had refused to negotiate. We didn't want her to hate learning an instrument so we backed off and hoped she'd change her mind. To our surprise she practiced today, and then she asked for cards. Her negotiating skills are obviously rusty. To be fair, and to encourage more practice, she got a couple packs.

I always knew I wanted to be a father. I had no idea that also meant playing both ends of an extortion racket- Godfather and victim too. It's been a lesson in labor negotiations.

the Publicserf