Momservation: It’s every mom with her camera and video camera for herself when it comes to the front row in the school talent show.
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The only time I had a twinge of guilt was when they played the piano.
But when I glanced from my front row seats next to the piano to see my excited daughter waiting in the wings to go on stage, I got over it. It wasn’t my fault the piano was positioned on the floor instead of up on stage where everyone could see it.
I played fair. The talent show director said we could reserve our seats at drop-off. I simply dropped off “the talent” a half-hour early with the stage crew was all. That move was standard Toddlers & Tiara’s 101.
Hey, all’s fair in love and fighting for the front row to your children’s shining achievements.
In this case, it was my daughter, Whitney’s, annual school talent show. Now in 4th grade, she’s been bringing her sassy self to the Mariemont Elementary stage every year since 1st grade.
Every year she decides to sing. Some years she’s done it with a friend, some years by herself. What she lacks in vocal talent she makes up for with confidence and charisma. Her fearless spirit is an inspiration to me.
This year, in the middle of her and friend, Kalena’s, performance to Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue” Whitney’s microphone went out. I could feel my ears getting hot with angry disappointment that there was a technical malfunction during MY KID’S act. But Whitney carried on like a true performer, seamlessly trading out her mike when they finally fixed the situation.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWt9KJdBqZ0]
Afterward I expected her to be upset right along with me. Instead she just said, “My mike went out. I’m thirsty, can I get some punch?”
Taking a cue from my much more mature nine year old, I decided to let my disappointment go. From my front row seat I saw her and heard her just fine and I couldn’t have been more stinkin’ proud.
But those moms of the piano players – they really should’ve fought harder for the front row. I don’t know how they saw their kids over all the heads in the way…
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The multi-disaster devastation in Japan will go down as an unprecedented historical and tragic event. It has been hard for my adult mind to fathom the images flashing onscreen. Even harder, and scarier for my children to comprehend.
We’ve had some serious talks trying to make them feel safe and secure in their world – a world where this could happen. Sometimes that means limiting their exposure to the barrage of information. We are also filtering the information trying to find a balance of just enough knowledge for them to be informed and feel compassion but not frighten them and cause an irrational fear of similar death.
Here are three good links for parents of young children and school age children to help them understand the meaning of this devastating event:
Explaining Disasters to Your Child by Sixty Second Parent
Talking to Your Child About Natural Disasters by Hand in Hand Parenting
On a lighter note, Whitney asked me other day if it was a requirement in high school to take a foreign language.
“Yes,” I said. “At least two years.”
Pondering all her foreign language choices for a moment she finally said, “I wonder if they teach Jamaican.”