My first school performance event
I went to Ethan's school last night for a big recital of poetry.
I got to the event about 15 minutes before it started, and I still had to park half a block away. Dear Calvin Christian School - please consider finding a place with more parking.
I parked my minivan on the street, and counted ten consecutive minivans parked ahead of me walking in. Yep, I'm in some big club. Living in the suburbs, two kids in daycare & private ed, driving a minivan, church on Sundays, wearing khaki pants. Middle-class Christian Wingnut, nice to meet you.
The inlaws were there already, and my folks got there not long after. I used to sing in choir and play in band concerts for my parents and grandparents; I'm glad I could help make it possible for my folks and inlaws to enjoy another generation.
Poetry is a pretty good venue for this - not everyone can sing, or act, especially when you're 5 or 6. Musical instruments cost money that a lot of folks don't have right now, but most everybody can recite a few lines of something funny or touching.
We were treated to two kindergarten classes' worth of poem readings. Some just recited, others had costumes and props. One of the teachers assisted the reading of Little Miss Muffett by dangling a hockey puck-sized rubber spider - yep, I'd definitely make tracks if I saw something like that getting close to me, trying to get my snack on.
A few kids went the religious route, and read Psalm 23, or John 3:16, or a few Proverbs, and those were all right. I don't think there was any peer pressure one way or the other to do some Bible verses, or something from Shel Silverstein. There were Mother Goose rhymes, a few of Naisbitt's; I think they drew the line at limericks.
Ethan did "Examination" by Shel Silverstein. He didn't fidget, or move his hands around in his pockets like he had two puppies fighting in his pants. He got close to the mic, stayed very still, and annunciated his poem crisply, got laughs and applause, and took his seat.
Later on he got a participation ribbon, like everyone else. I didn't try to push the evaluators into saying he should get a 1st place ribbon, or 2nd or 3rd place. No call for that right now; plenty of time to choose to get into some area of competition later if we want.
There were congratulations and hugs afterwards, then those feeling up for it headed to McDonald's to celebrate.
It was a good time, and I am proud of my kid's performance.
I got to the event about 15 minutes before it started, and I still had to park half a block away. Dear Calvin Christian School - please consider finding a place with more parking.
I parked my minivan on the street, and counted ten consecutive minivans parked ahead of me walking in. Yep, I'm in some big club. Living in the suburbs, two kids in daycare & private ed, driving a minivan, church on Sundays, wearing khaki pants. Middle-class Christian Wingnut, nice to meet you.
The inlaws were there already, and my folks got there not long after. I used to sing in choir and play in band concerts for my parents and grandparents; I'm glad I could help make it possible for my folks and inlaws to enjoy another generation.
Poetry is a pretty good venue for this - not everyone can sing, or act, especially when you're 5 or 6. Musical instruments cost money that a lot of folks don't have right now, but most everybody can recite a few lines of something funny or touching.
We were treated to two kindergarten classes' worth of poem readings. Some just recited, others had costumes and props. One of the teachers assisted the reading of Little Miss Muffett by dangling a hockey puck-sized rubber spider - yep, I'd definitely make tracks if I saw something like that getting close to me, trying to get my snack on.
A few kids went the religious route, and read Psalm 23, or John 3:16, or a few Proverbs, and those were all right. I don't think there was any peer pressure one way or the other to do some Bible verses, or something from Shel Silverstein. There were Mother Goose rhymes, a few of Naisbitt's; I think they drew the line at limericks.
Ethan did "Examination" by Shel Silverstein. He didn't fidget, or move his hands around in his pockets like he had two puppies fighting in his pants. He got close to the mic, stayed very still, and annunciated his poem crisply, got laughs and applause, and took his seat.
Later on he got a participation ribbon, like everyone else. I didn't try to push the evaluators into saying he should get a 1st place ribbon, or 2nd or 3rd place. No call for that right now; plenty of time to choose to get into some area of competition later if we want.
There were congratulations and hugs afterwards, then those feeling up for it headed to McDonald's to celebrate.
It was a good time, and I am proud of my kid's performance.