Since our school goes from age 4 to 18, they divide these type of things up by Lower school (up to about age 10/11) and Middle and High school (12+). That way the big kids, if they are doing skits, can add some slightly risqué dialogue. (Although there was a very stern memo went out to them because apparently last year's senior skits were way, way too blue.)
The big kids' show was basically the Seniors (Upper 6th, leavers) doing the Twelve Days of Christmas. There's not a lot you can do with lyrics that don't change, although with the onset of technology, and a shiny new auditorium, there were a lot more videos this year. Otherwise, it was the usual in-jokes that had the kids falling about laughing and the parents all looking at each other with "I don't know" all over their faces.
The little kids's show however, seems to get more delicious the older your kids get. Teeny four year olds yelling "Ode to Joy" with the inevitable diva slap bang in the middle shaking her little booty and generally mugging for the entire audience. Or the hilarious 7 years olds who were singing a Mexican song which required much circling of arms. I can't tell you how many of them were smacked on the head by the kid to their right. At one point the teacher had to gently move one boy who had taken to elbowing his neighbor in quiet retaliation.
This concert was our last ever Lower School concert. My "little guy" is now ten and will be in middle school next year. (Vespers - a whole nuther story.) A few of his friends' parents were also graduating out of Lower school and I detected a moist eye or two as we shuffled out at the end. Me? Not so much. While I can recite more sweet, funny details for you, I must also remind you that, due to the rather late age gap between the kids (10 and 7 years), that was my SEVENTEENTH consecutive Lower School concert. I know.
It's not that I found it boring, tiresome or anything curmudgeonly, it's just that I need to move on. Seventeen years doing the same things (eg. also the Halloween Parade) makes you feel like a hamster on a wheel sometimes. So while I loved the concert, and was proud of LG's glockenspiel playing, egads……
Does that make me a bad person?
Nope. After 17 concerts, I'd say you've done your time.
ReplyDeleteNa! I reckon you can move on now. You've been a good Mum, so on you go - and hey, you still have the rest of middle school, and high school, and college, and grandkids...
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'll stop now, you might get cross!!
Happy Christmas to you and yours. xx
No. Just an honest one.
ReplyDeleteSee the above comments (which I agree with). However, it sounds like your last hurrah was absolutely delightful. The teeny ones are always so charmingly, artlessly appealing. Merry Christmas to all!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a teacher, but even as a parent I used to find school concerts boring. There, I've said it. But now, especially at Christmas time, I miss the carol services!
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a wonderful holiday!
Helena xx
Oh my ... brings it all back ... my own childhood, that is. I remember singing in the 6th grade Christmas program when a very nervous boy (tall) in the back row threw up all over a sweet, shy girl named Gloria who had the misfortune of standing right in front of him. I was a few places away from her so didn't even get a drop on me. Sweet! (I was a do-gooder, though, and helped her clean up!)
ReplyDelete