When you are a child, your parents make you practice your instrument. When you are an adult, your wife makes you stop.
Not if you have a girlfriend/wife who plays music, too, like me!
I only wish my parents made me practice an instrument!
For me it’s sort of the opposite, except my family is supportive of music, they simply never required me to practice at a young age. I really wish they would have. When I have children I am making sure they get started with music at an early age.
Sounds like you need to find a way to get your wife interested in playing an instrument!
My parents never really made me practice. I dabbled in quite a few instruments (violin, trombone, electric guitar, piano) but I never practiced, mostly because the instruments weren’t very portable. I tried violin in 5th grade and quit. I always regretted not starting again in middle school. Instead, I ended up playing trombone. I didn’t even want to play trombone.
As for my wife, I keep telling her I have a spot open in my band for a rhythm guitarist. She just needs to learn to play rhythm guitar and she’s in. So far, my mother in law, a co-worker, and my wife are all competing for the spot, although none of them seem to be trying too hard…
No offense but…
I don’t like your wife 
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JK AB!! 
You could take your inspiration from Coventry based band Lieutenant Pigeon, which featured a Gen whistle and the band leader’s mother on piano on their classic number one hit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy32skBSHs0
Clover,
You can tell a man you don’t like his wife.
Just NEVER tell him he has an ugly dog, cause that will bring on a fight for sure. 
Cheers,
Cayden
AB,
I think your point raises the question “how many parents have forced kids that were potentially good musicians into hating music”?
It seems to me that those that are most likely to succeed in music are more likely self motivated and practice because they derive joy, self esteem, etc. From playing. I think the parent that can be balanced in their approach and a source of encouragement and support rather than some lunatic task master, will see much better long term results. Just my opinion.
Cayden
You know that old saying, “My wife told me it’s her or my whistles, but something has to go”! “I’m sure gonna miss her”! 
Cheers,
Cayden
In our house, when you are a parent, your child makes you buy his instrument! (Didn’t matter so much when it was his first Feadóg, but many whistles & a set of pipes later…)
Wouldn’t change it for a thing.
Will you adopt me?
Maybe. Are you cute? Do you do chores? Eat much?
But we don’t need another whistler! Looking for a really good backer for gigs. 
And part of my original point was, we don’t make him practice a darned thing. Homework is another story.
Put the pipes down & write that essay, already!
Elle,
My point made exactly. It is quite clear in watching your son play that he is moved by the music. There is an innate connection between the tunes and your son’s very being that calls to him to pick up his pipes or the whistle and play.
As a parent, you have provided him the initial exposure to the music, as he expressed interest you fostered and supported him by purchase of his first whistle, you provided him with instruction, and eventually supported him in his move to Uilleann Pipes (no small investment). Also, no small achievement on your son’s part as he is playing very well on a difficult instrument, and in a relatively short period of time. So nice to see. It is really great
to see it all come together for all parties involved.
Great work to Mom and son alike! 
Slainte,
Cayden
Thanks, Cayden. I’m just along for the ride. He’s having a ball.
Elle,
Don’t sell yourself short, he’s fortunate to have your ongoing support. Good on ya both!
Slainte,
Cayden
OMG, I’d never tread there. And anyway is there such a thing as an ugly dog? I never saw one 
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When I was a child, our family did all of our chores together until the chores were done. I was given the opportunity to play the piano while everyone did their chores. Once folks got tired of my playing, then I had to start real chores. I was totally inspired to play songs that interested the rest of my family (way too much Barbara Streisand and Show Tunes for my taste) but chores were even less of my taste. Since they’re on the sheet music, I could sing both the English and Spanish lyrics to “Feelings”, nothing more than feelings…That song is pitiful. Plain ass pitiful.
Mutepointe,
“Show tunes”??? Now that surely qualifies as cruel and unsusual punishment far exceeding any level of child labor your chores may have entailed. Unbelievable what some people will subject their poor kids to. 
I must concur that the situation is PAP (plain ass pitiful) and I hope you are working through the matter with a qualifield therapist. 
Good luck with your treatment.
Slainte,
Cayden