Should my daughter finish a piano duet I signed her up for when she wants to quit?
Parenting"I agreed to lessons, not a concert," my twelve-year-old said when I reminded her about the recital in two weeks. I had said yes to the duet when her teacher asked. I thought she'd be pleased to have a partner. I didn't check with her first.
She used to go to lessons with a friend who has moved away. This term she has complained about practicing and asked to stop. We have six prepaid lessons left, worth $240 altogether. I told her we finish commitments, and she pointed out that the recital commitment was mine.
There is another child involved now. He has been learning his half of the duet, and his parents have invited grandparents to watch. I don't want to leave them with a scramble. I also don't want my daughter on a stage because I'm embarrassed to call the teacher.
She still picks out songs on the keyboard sometimes. Yesterday she asked about an illustration club that meets on the same afternoon as piano. So I can't tell whether she wants to leave the instrument, the lessons, the recital or simply an afternoon that now feels lonely.
What would you ask before deciding? Is finishing the remaining lessons a fair compromise, and how much responsibility can I reasonably put on her for a performance I accepted?