Dude #2 is the brave one.
He’s the guy who checks on strange noises and bumps in the night.
With a wooden sword. And a toothbrush shank.
He’s the guy who jumps off the counters and the dresser and the top bunk (which I told him to not do again EVER).
He’s the I-can-do-anything-you-can-do-better brother, despite being smaller, slower, and younger.
And, he’s the one who came home a few weeks ago waving this golden rod colored paper (why does every school print flyers on that stuff? Is it free? Because as ugly as it is, it really should be) announcing that he plans to try out for the school play!
Awesome right?!
Not completely.
Because it is not just any old school play.
It’s a musical!
The Three Piggy Opera to be exact.
And, like with every musical worth it’s classification as such, there will be singing.
Lots of it.
A-ok for those kids who aren’t tone deaf and rythymless.
But, #2, he sounds disticitvely like one small, green Jedi master we all know and love when he sings (and, quite frankly, even when he talks).
He just has this really, um, unique voice that doesn’t lend itself easily to musical performance.
So what do you think I did when he brought me that golden rod colored flyer home and asked me what I thought?
I beamed with pride and doused him with encouragement!
Because I’m his always-supportive-even-unrealistically-so mom, and that’s what I was supposed to do, right?
Encourage him to do what he loves (because he really does LOVE to sing)?
And praise him for having the confidence (something he has in spades at home but rarely shares with the outside world) to share his “talent” with the world?
He decided he wanted to go for an actual part (as opposed to just signing up for the chorus), with a solo no less!
We practiced the audition song repeatedly (it was Happy Birthday, but he wanted “to be ready for them”, so we sang it over, and over, and over-til-my-ears-were-a-bloody-oozing-mess again).
And, on the day of the audition, I was a nervous wreck and I nearly puked on my feet. Twice. he was a nervous wreck, and he even held my hand while we waited outside The Room in The Chairs.
And then the teacher stepped out with her official looking clipboard and called his name all official sounding like.
He went in.
I chewed my nails and listened to some dad tell me that him and his kid thought #2 looked a lot like Michael Jackson (to which I replied, “Well, he doesn’t sing like him that’s for sure!”).
Less than 60 seconds later, he came running out, grinning from ear to ear, yelling, “Mom, I did it and it was SO awesome!” (Clearly the kid listens when I talk.)
Believe me when I say that as cold and emotional wasetland-ish as I am inside sometimes, that little face with those sweet words melted my heart a little.
Okay, so it melted my heart a lot. Thought the dumb old thing was gonna burst outta my chest I was so happy for that kid.
The pride, written all over his face, and in his voice, and his step, and his eyes.
And, mine too.
We found out a week ago that he didn’t get a part and that he would instead be a member of the chorus along with the other 80 kids who auditioned and weren’t awesome and didn’t get selected for lead roles.
I was mad.
My little Yoda Dude deserved a part, if not for his ear splitting singing, then definitely for his gorgeous smile or his sensible afro. He has The Look, I just know it.
But, when I broke the news to him, he was cool about it. Don’t think he really even realizes what it means that he didn’t get the part he tried out for because he’s just happy that he gets to be a part of it at all.
So, I guess, I’m just happy that he’s happy.
And, that I still have a few years before I have to break the seriously-your-singing-voice-sounds-like-a-cow-in-labor-and-there-is-no-bloody-way-I’m-driving-you-to-New-Jersey-to-try-out-for-American-Idol news to him.
Few more years until that happens!
*This post has been written as part of Mama Kat’s Weekly Writer’s Workshop.
**In other news, I still have 4 slots left for the Blog Awesome Photo Chain Challenge in case you want in. Leave a comment and I’ll sign you right up!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Or you could always get Simon Cowell to break the news to him.
I think your son sounds terrific. I love that spirit!
Awww… I feel ya. My son thinks he is the expert soccer player on his team when actually he sashays while dribbling and does this funny leap when he kicks. Yeah… but he is so proud of himself.
And, when you drive Dude #2 to Jersey (or Philly) to audition for American Idol, you can come see me!
Way to give him confidence to be brave enough to do what he wants to do!
Good job mama.
My mom had no problem telling me. She still does. “Jennifer, I love you, but you can’t sing. Stop trying.”
Here’s hoping that sweet boy never loses that bravery!
And ear splitting singing that loud enough to melt, er break, the ice around his mother’s heart? Clearly, he’s cut out for a future in opera. Maybe you just need to encourage him to practice more?
I love that last bit about his singing voice and you are not driving him to Idol auditions. Awesome.
Aren’t kids great? They don’t see that anyone is better or worse than they are – until some a-hole opens their eyes to that fact. I wish we could all be that way!
aahh-the Happy Birthday audition-BTDT-glad he made it in-worst is when they don’t-mommy heartbreak!
Aww, that would totally melt my heart too!! I’m glad he’s cool with being in the chorus.
good for him for trying out and good for you for encouraging him! My son, too, thinks he can sing. He cannot. He’s almost 13 though so I didn’t have to sugar coat it too much when I explained that just because you know the words to the song and can verbalize them it does not mean you can SING.
Oh my goodness, as a mom and music teacher, I loved this post! I think it’s great that he tried out and was excited about, and he’ll have fun being in the “musical” no matter what part he got. Isn’t it funny how nervous you get as a parent?
If he can’t sing, but ends up liking music, encourage him to play an instrument… That’s what I teach, and we have all kinds/talent levels. Kids really seem to love it though!
That kid has moxy!
What a great mom you are! Especially listening to him practice over and over and over, haha.
Poor Yoda…I mean Dude! My dudes are starting guitar lessons this Saturday. And though I have explained to them that this instrument requires years to master, I have this feeling they think they are going to walk out of there playing as good as Jimmy Hendrix.
For starters they need to learn to say “guitar” instead of “Tigar.” Just a thought… But man can they play a mean air guitar!!
It really is best to nip that in the bud while he’s young…lest we all sit laughing and pointing at him when he auditions for American Idol 15 years after the fact.
How cute!! I love how they get so happy over such things. Don’t worry you won’t have to tell him he can’t sing…that’s what his friends are for
You’ve been quoted!
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