This morning was the three year-olds' Christmas program at Hank's school. I remembered it was happening, even though it received only brief mention in a newsletter last week. So after I dropped Hank off in the car line, I parked and went into the chapel. I figured, they're three. How big a deal can this be? Well, you'll understand what I mean when I say that the dads were there. Dads with video cameras. And grandmothers in Major Holiday Sweaters. I was served cider from a silver punch bowl. Don't you hate being caught unawares by a dad-level event?
And here's where I was glad to be the mother of a little boy, as gender stereotype-y as this will sound. All the little girls were dolled up: hair fixed, puffy skirts, Christmas tights. The little boys were a more ragtag bunch, so it didn't matter that Hank's shirt was untucked and his hair was sticking up in his eternal rooster-tail cowlick situation. He was standing up in the back row, where everyone could see him as he kept his hands over his ears throughout "Deck the Halls." It was a proud moment.
As part of my general unpreparedness, I hadn't brought my camera, so several photo ops were missed. I guess recording them in my brain will have to do. One I will remember is when, after looking around the room for two songs, Hank remembered why he was there, and busted out with, "All night, all day, angels watchin' over me MY LORD!" I swear I could hear his individual voice from the middle of the chapel.
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19 comments:
How cute ! The photo of Hank is so good ! He suddenly looks much older. I agree, there are not many things as precious as little kids is Christmas programs. I'm impressed he remembered the words! Remember Dave as baby Jesus complete with pacifier?
I'm so glad I'm not the only mom who forgets the camera! :)
I anticipate being that mom a lot.
Great photo of your guy, though.
You paint a pretty great picture with words, Becky. Hope Hank had lots of fun!
What a handsome kid. He doesn't need to dress up all fancy with a face like that.
I forgot that it was amny's carol concert today and was the only parent in the playground. All the others were picking their kids up from the church like they were supposed to. Oops.
What a cutie! Way to go Hank. My little point and shoot camera was stolen and my other one is so big, I often leave it when other people have theirs. I am the annoying one saying "oh can you send me a copy of that?"
We just attended Luke's Christmas program last week. Half the time Luke watched the other kids, and the rest of the time he was stooped over like he was studying his shoes. At that point, Steph leaned over to me and said,
"Oh my gosh! I hope he's not pooping." Thank God-he was just hiding from the two hundred pairs of eyes watching his every move. He did manage to clap when his songs were over. Proud moment indeed!
Ha! No pooping during the Christmas pageant! Hank spent some time studying his shoes too. At one point he disappeared. I think he was sitting down for a moment.
Thank goodness for Blackberry phones that have cameras!
So cute! I'll be that Mom a lot. Like, probably all of the time. Being the mom of a boy has its advantages, I guess. Though I'd imagine I'd be the same kind of Mom to a girl, and she'd probably be in all kinds of therapy for it later. With the boy I kind of get a free pass.
Was the mom in the gold mercedes there?
Your post cracked me up. And what a great photo!
We were always those parents who brought our boys to visit Santa at the mall in jeans and everyone else was dressed up. Wait--what do I mean "were"? We still make them visit Santa at the mall.
For me, this is totally a second child deal. My second gets the short shrift on these events all the time. I didn't even come to school when the Zoomobile came, and the the teacher made some sly comment when I picked him up, and I thought, "Crap, was I supposed to attend the Zoomobile???" Apparently all the first time parents were there. :-)
Oh, I think that's totally right that it's a second child thing. Also, I think it has a lot to do with the population that your school serves. Like at Laura's school, they pretty much expect that each child has a mom at home, and that she will run up to the classroom if the kids will be belching the ABC's (okay I would go up there for that). Sounds like the your second's school might be the same.
And Michele R, I totally looked for that lady! Maybe her other car is a Beamer.
I love, love, LOVE Christmas pageants! And I'm with you, I never remember the damned camera. Which makes me a bad mother AND a bad blogger. Well, the pictures never turn out anyway, they always have those creepy red glowy eyes...
We all need to have a few moments in life where we can relax and enjoy the show unfettered by the camera duty!
A "dad-level event". Awesome. I instantly knew exactly what you meant. I'm going to remember that term for a long time.
(I'm ALWAYS the one without the camera and with the kid who didn't brush his hair.)
That is a great shot of Hank! I love your description of the Christmas program, too. A "dad-level" event is not to be taken lightly! :)
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