Joy’s Christmas Concert
We arrived at the girls’ school Christmas concert last year the required half hour early and found a good seat near the front. As I chatted with the mom in front of me, I mentioned that I hoped Joy (five years old at the time) would do okay because it is really hard for her to sit still. With camera at the ready, I watched as the kids all filed on stage, and I clicked pictures in unison with all the other proud moms and dads.
During the first song things went relatively well. Joy stood on the very front row on the left end. She kind of swayed to the music a little too much, but at least she was singing and watching the director. For the second song, Joy decided she was the director and, as all the other children stood like little statues, my Joy waved her arms up and down during the entire song. I was actually pretty proud of her for staying in her place for half of the program, even though she may have danced around in her spot too much.
Everything fell apart, however, around the middle of the concert when a precious little girl had a solo and the rest of the choir sat down behind her. As I was watching the soloist, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked over at Joy. She was whispering to the little girl in the green Santa-type dress beside her. To my dismay, she then grabbed the white furry trim on the child’s sleeve with both hands and yanked as hard as she could. Her face lit up as she looked at the white fuzz in her hands. Not wanting to be the only one in on the fun, she shared a chunk with the owner. Joy held the fuzz up in the air and then threw it and watched with delight as it floated down to the ground. She then encouraged her friend to throw hers and watched happily as it floated down just out of reach. Having stayed in her assigned spot this whole time, she finally could stand it no longer and crawled to get the cherished source of entertainment. Three or four times she threw the fuzz up and watched it float. It must have disappeared because she once again grabbed at the little girl’s furry trim, and with eyes narrowed and lips pursed, she yanked with all her might.
I covered my face with my hand and watched with one eye. It was so horrible and so funny, but I knew I must not laugh. I must not. It occurred to me to video tape her, and I actually held up the camera with my other hand. Then I put it back down. How could I possibly think of videoing this? What kind of mother was I anyway? I mean, that could be used as evidence!
Evidently, the newest batch of fuzz was not as interesting. It seemed it was more fun to acquire the fuzz than to play with it because all of a sudden Joy launched a full scale attempt to rid the poor little girl of her pretty white Santa fur. Joy grabbed the bottom of the dress. Yank! A different spot. Yank! A spot on the sleeve. Yank! The adorable little girl was absolutely too good natured. She would just pull her dress closer to her and keep smiling. As I sank lower and lower in my seat, I noticed the man two rows in front of me would crane his head over and look at his wife with mouth agape and shock on his face. I hoped that wasn’t the child’s parents. The thought that actually occurred to me was, “She’s like Beverly Cleary’s Ramona on steroids…and she’s my daughter!”
Finally, the solo came to an end and the choir stood up. The kindergarten teacher discreetly walked up and said something to Joy, and she behaved . . . for a little while. Soon, however, she once again began to attack her neighbor’s dress. Then the little girl turned her back, and Joy started tugging at the bow of her sash. When she started pulling at the little girl’s zipper, I did begin to come out of my seat, but the teacher once again came to the rescue.
The next few songs had more action, so I was thankful that Joy had enough to occupy her attention. The last song was a carol medley. When they sang “fall on your knees” my daughter was the only one that actually fell on her knees. I thought, “We’re going to have to seriously rethink our singing time at home. Don’t my kids know that the spontaneous motions and dancing we do at home are NOT okay on the stage at the school concert?” Mercifully, the program finally ended. The director announced for parents to walk up and claim their children. Well, Jason was somewhere in the back heroically taking care of our youngest two, but no way was I going up there. I sank in the pew and pretended to fiddle with my camera. The lady in front of me turned around and said pleasantly, “I can see what you mean about Joy not being able to sit still!”
When the girls found me, I told them to go find their dad, postponing the inevitable. I got my things together and walked to meet my family for the after-concert reception. A lady approached me laughing. “Wasn’t that hilarious?” she exclaimed and started talking about “that little girl.” Joy came running up to me, and the lady stared in shock. “Oh my goodness, is that your daughter?”
A constant flow of people stopped by our table at the reception with comments such as “So you’re the mother of this little girl.” “She certainly stole the show!” “It was such fun to watch her!” The director of the school came over and took a family picture. I finally got a break long enough to look for the mother of the little girl with the Santa dress. I apologized profusely as did Joy at my prompting. The lady laughed, thankfully, and said she had been waiting to meet Joy’s mother. I now have a special identity. The people who were at that concert will forever think of me differently. I’m not just any mother. I’m Joy’s Mom!
This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Pastor’s Girl’s Ponderings.
Esther,
You ain’t Right!
Ha ha ha! That is so funny! I am also known as A’s mom due to her antics, too!
Oh my…that is quite a story! Thanks goodness everyone was good humored about it! Visiting and stumbling from the Blog Frog SU group…
I can’t get over the other little girl submitting to the destroying of her cute dress, even participating. And she looks bigger than Joy.
Oh my goodness, that was too funny!
I think all moms try to stifle their kids energy, afraid of what everyone else is thinking, when everyone else may be thinking, “What an adorable child!”
Beautiful name, but the way. I have a sister named Esther. =) Thanks for sharing about your recent miscarriage… the rest of us always relate to pain. I’m sorry you lost your baby! My hubby and I plan to try for baby #5 this winter, but your story reminded me that babies can’t be taken for granted! I can’t always just *decide* when I want a baby and then have it. Life doesn’t work that way!
Oh my! Was that a tale of SUSPENSE! I was freaking out over here wondering how this was going to turn out! How wonderful that the other mother had a good sense of humor about it!!
That is a classic story. You know, based on the other parents’ reactions, even though you didn’t get the video, I am sure someone else did.
Thanks for sharing this one. I love it.
This story is terrifyingly hysterical! I was partially hiding my own face just reading it!
But totally priceless and something you’ll treasure telling for years.
That was hilarious! Thanks for a great laugh! If I had been the parent, I totally would have videotaped it and then thought “what am I doing?” just like you did.
That was too funny, Esther. Gotta love kids!
Oh my, Oh my… I don’t know what I would have done if it was me watching… I can see myself making face signals right now… hahaha… Be blessed always, Esther!
oi! now I dont want to have kids. I would panic if I was a father in that situation (inside of course…not outwardly). Im curious though…what did your husband do or think while all this was happening??
Too funny!
This was last year and I confess I’m laughing a whole lot louder this year. It was really just unbelievable! One thing about my kids is that they’re never bored. They ALWAYS entertain themselves! lol
Samuel, He had the little kids in the back of the auditorium. It was really convenient for him to just walk out! 🙂
Joy has given you a memory that will NEVER grow old!
I hope Joy gets 20 yards of the fluffiest white Santa fur for Christmas 🙂
What a great story and you did such a great job telling it!! Children surprise us everyday, don’t they? I’m not sure I would have had the self control to sit and watch like you did though.
That is hysterical! You are such a good mom! Stopping by from MomLoop!
Heather
Hi Joy’s Mom!;) Stopping by from Mom Loop
http://sweettmakesthree.com
Oh my goodness! She may have trumped a few of the embarrassing things my son has done on stage in the past. lol Stopping by from the StumbleUpon group and stumbling your post. 🙂
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
Stopping from Mom Loop! My JDaniel would do this. I need to start praying for his preschool experience today.
and I bet you’re the most fun mom on the block!
Kids always keep us guessing as to what they’ll come up with next don’t they? Stopped over from the blogfrog.
Great story! I especially laughted at your lines “What kind of mother was I anyway? I mean, that could be used as evidence!” Visiting from your Blog Frog Community.
Hi, Esther. Thank you so much for sharing this precious moment. There was a time when I was a primary teacher, I used to enjoy my pupils’ “joy” moments. I used to tell and re-tell their tales all the times. I had a huge repertoire. But as a mother it became harder, as the pressure for children to behave in a sensible and nice way is enormous. I totally sympathise with the other mother who didn’t get upset about Joy’s ‘attack’. I’d think, well it is just a costume and the girls were having fun and entertaining the audience as well anyway LOL, so why bother? But on the other hand, I think that if I was “Joy’s mum”, I’d feel so guilty and so bad for not achieving other people’s expectations for my child. Then I realise, why should I? But I always feel the pressure.
So, your story is not just a pleasure for me to read, it is liberating and empowering. You little girl was just doing the thing the I cherish most ion life, which is exercising her right to be herself and to be a child, while she is. Well done you for being Joy’s mum! [ah and I’m coming from blog frog btw]
Thank you so much for a good laugh. For the last few days, my husband and I have been sobbing in pain. After reading 10 of your entries, I just feel so much better. I love your heart, and the way you write is so refreshing. You said on my blog that you were a missionary kid. Where from?
I just want to say that I think you’re wonderful, and thank you so much for easing my sorrow. God bless you!
TOO cute!
Oh this is too great! Thank you for sharing! I have learned to never be surprised at the things kids do! Sounds like you have a persistent little girl on your hands 🙂
LMAO that is such a cute story.
omg, that is hilarious! No stage fright for her.
That’s just perfect! Seriously, that’s not normal? I do that all the time to strangers in the grocery line. It makes the time pass more quickly- and sometimes, they just leave and I get to check-out faster. 🙂
Love this!! You had me rolling!
Elizabeth
http://www.allkindsofthingsblog.com
So funny! Reminds me of things Jonathan would do at ages 3-5 when he was in front of the congregation at church!