The week that was...
"You Can't Stop the Beat"
August 5 - August 12, 2013
Project 52 (32/52)
My third trip thru motherhood is quite a different itinerary than my first two adventures. Things #1 and #2 were athletes. And in the process I became a sports mom. I can tell ya anything you want to know, or don't want to know, about baseball and swimming. I can also tell you how to behave, and more importantly now NOT to behave, as a parent of an athlete (THAT is a post for another day!). But just when I had the whole mom thing nailed down, the heaven's bestowed upon me Thing #3. And just to completely throw me for a loop, she hates sports...ALL sports. God said to moi "Kath, you shall spread your wings and be a mom to a theatre geek, sis-boom-bah". This required a whole new handbook. The first page clearly states "the term 'theatre geek' is not deragatory, but embraced proudly. But only if uttered BY a theatre geek or their mom". Okay then.
It's been almost 16 years of learning the performing arts ropes. I am by no means a "stage mom". I'm usually admonished to just not get too involved...puhleeze. I drive to dance lessons, I drive to voice lessons, I drive to keyboard and guitar lessons, I drive to various school production rehearsals, I attend all the shows, I do what I am allowed to do. I'm a great facilitator. But not real "hands on" because I feel like I'm still a work in progress, a SLOW work in progress. But I FINALLY felt involved this past week when Thing #3 relented and I was "allowed" to photograph some rehearsals of the show she is currently involved in, "Hairspray".
I felt as if I had entered the inner sanctum, otherwise known as Thing #3's turf. And let me tell you, as much as I enjoyed taking photos, I was MORE enthralled with watching these young adults in action with their talents galore. And finally some of the terminology that Thing #3 throws about at home, the lingo of theatre productions and staging, finally made sense because I saw what she had always talked about in action. I also saw that these kids work their butts off, and so do the staff who somehow manage to make it all work. Quite honestly, that is a HUGE undertaking! So yes, I also have a new appreciation and respect for the director and all the other's involved in running the shows. Kinda makes what a baseball or swimming coach do pale by comparison (sorry Things #1 and #2). I also was surprised to see so many people truly enjoying themselves, smiling, laughing, camraderie. Teams aren't confined to playing fields. But the joy I saw apparently lives on stages.
I envy ANYONE who has the confidence to get up on a stage in front of an audience to sing, dance, act, heck even talk! I never could. Never mind nobody would want me to. Thing #3 has that confidence on stage. I admire her. I don't think I'll ever become a true stage mom. But I AM a bona fide mom of a theatre geek...and I embrace that proudly (page two of the handbook says I'm allowed to do that). I'd embrace Thing #3 proudly in public on a stage, if she would let me do that. But for now, I'll just be satisfied she didn't balk at me taking photographs of rehearsals...sis-boom-bah.
Please join me on Sundays for "Song-ography".
This week's song title is Bruce Springsteen's "Born the Run".
| HT2WSFR2DJV5 |
First 20 years of my life. On a stage. I wish I had photos that you'd taken of some of my rehearsal days!!
ReplyDeleteI was a dancer until college, still miss the stage sometimes!! Great shot!!
ReplyDeleteLove the starburst on the shoe. We didn't get a theater geek in the family.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great photo! I liked to act when I was a child, but it didn't carry over into high school or adulthood. One of my nephews was involved in theatre, and it seemed like a wonderful atmosphere for him to be a part of.
ReplyDeleteLove this! Our Thing 1 & Thing 2 are also athletes. Football, basketball, baseball. ALL. YEAR. LONG. They've made me into a sports mom. But our thing 3 is different.. he is so far completely uninterested in sports, and we're cool with that. It pains me to see people force their kids to participate in something they don't enjoy (talking extra-curricular "for fun" activities.. not chores!)
ReplyDeleteI've learned that there is no greater thing as a parent than watching your kid do what the love. But it's very painful to watch them do something they're uncomfortable & pained to do.
So we'll see what our younger Things end up passionate about. I personally would love to have a theater geek! I've always loved theater - but like you, could never have gotten on stage (and I was probably lacking the talent needed to do so.)
Love this! My life is yours inverted. I was the theater and dance geek. My daughter can.not.dance. Oh the angst. I'm now the soccer mom.
ReplyDeleteLove this too! The I Heart Macro link is still open on my blog if you would like to participate this week:-)
ReplyDeleteI was a band geek in high school, and we lovingly called ourselves band geeks! I bet it is similar to theater geeks :) I did play in the pit orchestra for a musical and really enjoyed it. I envy people with such confidence that they can get up on stage and perform for lots of people. Your girl sounds like she has really found her place on stage :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I would MUCH rather do the theatre geek mom thing than be outdoors in the heat or cold with bugs and humidity... bleh.... You GO, Thing #3. LOL
ReplyDeleteI was definitely a theater geek and my daughter was too...continued on and now a dance teacher/owner of a dance studio. I continually see her on stage enjoying herself, along with my granddaughters. I think stage geeks run in our family since my sweetie was also an off-broadway actor...he LOVED that life. However, son never graced the stage, baseball was his forte.
ReplyDeleteWow...I was never an athlete OR anybody that wanted to be on stage...although I was in Drama and was several plays...but that's before I was wised up! How awesome you have such talent running through your genes.
ReplyDeleteI love the little glimmer of light burst on the toe
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
My younger child is also self proclaimed theater geek and I've been having so much with it (after her sister had no interest in those things). I agree about all the work that goes into these productions as well as the guts it takes to get up on stage!
ReplyDeleteMy Thing 1 excelled in soccer and in theatre/dancing. Dancing is still a big part of her life, and also that of Thing 3, a bond that bridges their 13 years' gap. I also prefer that scene to the sports scene. Thing 2, my son, takes after me in being more into music, though dancing is part of my life too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect photo - it embodies that feeling of the stage, the lights, the excitement before a show...I agree with you that I could never perform on a stage with all eyes on me! *shudder* My daughter was a dancer, and I was always amazed to see my quiet, introverted child thrive when on stage performing. She loved it so much. I hope your daughter's Hairspray show was a resounding success! :)
ReplyDeleteHooray! So happy you shared the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)
ReplyDeleteSadly, my only child does not embrace that theatre geek gene. I don't know how I failed to pass it on. Glad to hear you got a manual on how to be a mom for theatre geek.
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