So, the girls had their big CHRISTMAS RECITAL on Saturday.
The day was filled with drama.
The morning began hectic. Sam had learned to ride without training wheels the day before (more on that in another post). He woke early on Saturday with the plan to ride his bike ALL DAY LONG. M agreed to one quick spin around the cul de sac. This was the spin, of course, when he crashed, scraping every bit of exposed skin on his body. Ten minutes before we had to leave for the girls’ recital.
And I would love to report that was no problem. That the girls and I were calmly reviewing their tap dance for the show. Oh, I would love to tell you that I was gently reminding them that they only needed to try their best and smile the beautiful smiles that God had given them. I wish I could tell you that I was adhering to all the promises I had made myself before I became a mommy: choose your battles, no stage mom tendencies, and never refer to yourself in the third person as “mommy.”
Nope. These promises were all lost someplace in the Land of Good Intentions.
Because, as my dear Sam was bleeding and howling in the kitchen with M, I was in the bathroom arguing with Catie about wearing tights with a hole in them all while I was spraying Elisabeth’s hair with SUPER HOLD! hairspray.
Who was this person I had become?
I can explain. The girls had practiced for weeks for this performance. Hundreds of mommies and daddies and grandmas and papas and aunts and uncles and friends were coming to watch. I wanted them to feel good about the day. I wanted them to see that all those Tuesday nights they had sacrificed were worth it.
And, let’s face it. My girls may not care that much if their tights are holey and their hair is wispy. But other people do. Part of life is learning how to rise to the BIG DAY occasion and focus on looking and doing your best.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself today, the day of the twins’ BIG CHRISTMAS CHAPEL. I have the feeling I’ll need to use all my stage mom tendencies to get both four-year-olds combed and dressed and smiling and on stage by six tonight.
Tis the Season.
