(08-08-2013, 06:45 PM)chem_in_6 Wrote: My mum was an art major and a substitute preschool teacher. She had a lot to do with my introduction to art and she allowed me to draw, paint, play with clay, build things out of cardboard boxes and other material destined for the recycle bin. When I was in kindergarten, she would have me "think like a preschooler" and try out art projects to see if they were going to be too difficult her kids to do. I (chem) see a lot of that in Peskee (5 years old) and Mella (10 years old), especially when I get the chance to use coloured pencils for some of my college assignments.
When I got into martial arts and sports, I was always encouraged to keep improving and having fun. Eventually with the martial arts, it got to a point where I got pushed beyond my capabilities and "bowed out" so I could train on my own without feeling pressured to take on roles that I couldn't handle.
Encouraged? Wow. Pushed? Wow. Pushed beyond capacity is not so good but encouragement from within the home is something we can never comprehend.