Thread: Xmas present for daughter!

She is 9 and I am so stoked - today I bought her a $300 Washburn guitar and a $100+ Roland Cube amp with 4 effects... Most notably Distortion She plays classic piano and loves singing the current girlie rock hits. When my dad showed her Smoke on the Water in Germany she was wow-ed. So I hope she picks it up here

But if I have to be totally honest, I must admit I might enjoy it even more than she would. Just hooked it up and played for 3+ hours. I tore a string and fingertips are raw now; I have not played for 15+ years. But I am very satisfied because I resurrected one of my (music and lyrics) songs from my punk rock group in 8th grade. When we were recording it there was a big earthquake, it was crazy, people running on the streets in underwear and stuff... we kept playing... on the 9th floor What times!

I am going to teach my daughter the song. Without the lyrics, which were about spring: sun, birds, and a rotting corpse under a tree in the melting snow I'll tell her to write her own lyrics; she actually has a buch of them ready so maybe she can even get a running start

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo, musical talent definitely runs in your family. Just make sure to get some gear for yourself so she doesn't get mad at you for playing with her toys even though they came from you. In any case I love the fact that you got her a meaningful gift that will keep on giving and be up to her to use to its full potential.

Hi Ilija

yes, I am trying to give her stuff that she can use for better things. Last year she got a used (=cheaper) laptop and a CD encyclopaedia. She uses them for school mostly. Sometimes online games (but not much). I am thinking this year's present blows the socks of that laptop

She is the only kid her age in her school who doesn't have a Nintendo, XBox, or whatever else they have now. I prefer to keep her busy with other stuff. She knows that if she really wants / needs a game system (so as not to feel bad in front of other kids / excluded) she will get one - but so far has not asked for one.

Cheers
Ivo

ps I don't have enough money to buy extra gear for myself, in fact I used the Rooney Finest funds for her gift. but she loves doing stuff with me - pretty much anything - chess, tennis, running, biking... for now, until she grows up a bit and i am no longer cool

Having your kid follow the crowd by bying those electric junk-toys is the worst thing you could do to her and knowing you, I'm not surprised you rose way above that. When I think about how I'll be raising my kids (if I ever visit that misfortune on the world lol) that's exactly what I'd have in mind when it comes to presents. Something either artistic and/or practical but that will engage the mind and provide a challenge (preferably tied to an activity the kid and I could do together). The ideas I had in mind revolve around building a tree-house, customizing a bike/sk8board, even a joint effort at re-decorating the room if the kid's so inclined. This is in addition to books and puzzles, which would come in randomly

Heh,

More power to you! I cannot trust a treehouse I've been working on

Otherwise we're very similar - she has a custom Girl skateboard, a special Giant bike, Sudoku and other puzzle books...

Proud parent post warning

At her school they do reading comp computerized tests on selected books and at the end of last year she was #3 in the school after two 8th graders (she was in 3rd grade) - she has a permission by the headmastress to test on up to 7th grade books. She could read the 8th grade books too, but the material was a bit age inappropriate. Almost died when she told me about a book: "It's alright, but I don't enjoy much reading about first period" Even better was asking her mom something about testicles

Cheers
Ivo

I'm not surprised at all because of 2 forces working...
1) Parents here let electronic junk like nintendos, cell phones and television raise their kids. That really kills their literacy and social skills. I've graded grade 10 literacy tests last spring and in general, they were attrocious
2) You have obviously been doing your job right by stimulating her body through sports, mind through exposure to more advanced reading material and soul by letting her express her artistic talent.
This young lady will have some major advantages throughout her lifetime

Fudge me!!! Sound like your little girl is in for quite the surprise. I don't think I'll ever be able to spoil my kids like that. (not because i think it's wrong but I most likely simply will not ever have the funds for that).

I've been thinking about getting a Roland Cube myself....but lacked the funds. She'll have a nice little basic setup with that. Hope she takes to the hobby and doesn't forget about her piano either.

That sounds like a great setup Ivo. Well done. It lookslike you just might be "The Best Dad Ever!" this year.

X

I don't know, he'd have pretty stiff competition in my former next-door neighbor. He builds his sons a hockey rink in the back yard every winter and spends time coaching them and helps them with their football/b-ball/n.american football skills throughout the summer. That's in addition to working 60-70hrs a week Well even if Ivo doesn't win he gets honorable mention for the effort and the Smart Parenting award

I bought the Washburn HB30 last year, great guitar. And the Blues Cube was inspiration for my own built hybrid tube+mosfet "Jazz Box"

way to go,
Nenad