Have patience, Bill. When my youngest was 10, he said he wanted to play guitar, so I got him a Strat for Solstice (Damn, I'm a good dad!). It then sat in the basement for a few years, then got pawned to a friend. Meanwhile he took 6 years of drum lessons (got him a Pearl kit - why couldn't I have a dad like me?) - then he decided to sign up for guitar lessons, using my accoustic. A few months later the Strat was redeemed, and, at 21, he 's good enough to pay for his beer and - well, you know - with his playing, and to mock Dad's lousy chops, the little ingrate.
Peter
PS - the friend who held it was infected with GAS - had no guitar before, 13 when I got the Strat back, and over 30 now. He curses me - but his heart isn't in it.