Category: Family Matters

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The Summer of Six and Nine

Three years ago, my aunt was visiting, and she was telling me her plans for her Golden Jubilee (her 50th anniversary of being a religious sister), which would be happening in 2014. We chatted about it, and reminisced about her Silver Jubilee, which took place when I was a teenage (ahem). As I got to thinking about logistics (I’m a Virgo, I immediately start planning logistics), it hit me- in 2014 I’d have a six year old and a nine year old. A first grader and a fourth grader.

The summer of Three and Six was a good one.
The summer of Three and Six was a good one.

I couldn’t *quite* picture it at the time- at the time, I had an almost first grader and an almost preschooler. Potty-training was still on my mind, and I was apprehensive about my daughter starting a new school. There was a stroller in my trunk, and a five point harness car seat strapped to the middle seat. I had yet to travel with the children when they had both slept well away from home.

Fast forward to 2014- we are East Coast bound at the end of July. My aunt’s having a party, and everyone in the family has a special job. I’m not concerned in the least about the twelve hour car ride or four night hotel stay. What seemed like a dream three years ago is coming true. Six and Nine are kind of awesome.

They've grown some since the summer of 2011. But here they are, at nearly nine and nearly six.
They’ve grown some since the summer of 2011. But here they are, at nearly nine and nearly six.

Six and Nine carry their own suitcases.

Six and Nine are much better sleepers than any age combination before them.

Six and Nine can travel for hours without incident.

Six and Nine know where New York City is, and have opinions about what we should see while they’re there.

Six and Nine can make it through a family party with no special provisions, except maybe a charged iPhone.

Six and Nine are happy to have adventures without me, but are always eager to tell me all about.

The summer of Six and Nine might be my favorite summer yet.

 

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Life Lessons and Let(-ting) It Go

Life Lessons and Let(-ting)It GoChildhood is continually marked with milestones and firsts. This time of year, it’s also marked with lasts. This is my last month as mom of a kindergartener, last month of having any kids under five, and so many more. But I like to look forward, so let’s concentrate on the firsts.

The girl participated in her first May Crowning at church.

The boy played in his first tee ball game.

The girl will complete her first session of gymnastics.

The boy will participate in his first field day at school .

The girl also had her first-ever audition. She’d been mulling over trying out for the school talent show ever since seeing some friends on the stage last year. Her performance ideas varied as the year past, but when the audition form came home at the end of April, she was confident in her decision. She would audition for the talent show by singing “Let It Go.” Maybe you’ve heard it before. Are you familiar with the movie Frozen???

She learned the correct lyrics and we practiced the karaoke version. We downloaded the instrumental version of the song and charged her iPod. I marked the calendar with the audition date.

And I wondered. I wondered how she sounded compared to the other singers. I wondered how many girls were going to get up and sing “Let It Go” with the same hopeful look in their eyes. I even wondered if there would be a “Let It Go” chorus, where the scores of girls auditioning could all take part.

I saw what a production this was when I picked Meg up after her audition- there were over 140 acts auditioning, and auditions were taking place in three separate areas of the school. Panels of judges were in each room, scoring each act on a few different measures. 140 acts auditioning, and 20 being cast in the show.

I didn’t see Meg pull the letter out of her backpack and read it. When she handed it to me, the look on her face told me she wouldn’t be performing in the talent show this year. And I realized this was a milestone too- a first rejection.

She took the news well, and I’m glad the casting happened on a Friday and she’s had the weekend to mull it over. It’s come up a few times over the past few days, and I’ve given her plenty of examples of things I tried out for but wasn’t selected for. Here in no particular order are a few of them:

  • school talent shows
  • student exchange program
  • cheerleading (ha! Can you imagine?)
  • assorted school plays
  • assorted jobs
  • assorted social media opportunities

I’m still here, and I’m still kicking, and I know that she will do the same. And as much as I wish there would be a “Let It Go” chorus, I understand why there isn’t. This is a milestone that doesn’t go down in the record books, but may be it should. The concept of not everyone makes everything is a big one, and it’s good to learn about it when your memory is short and your hopes are high, and you’re inclined to continue to sing the song you love so much. Although she doesn’t believe, I tell her that she gets props for her first-ever audition. I know some day she’ll understand why.