Let’s Dance!

What unexpected have you experienced recently?

Our exchange student came back from an afternoon out with friends. She shared what they had done, treasures she had found, and casually sipped on an energy drink while doing so. After she finished, she turned on the karaoke machine that sits in our living room, (and to this point, used mainly on holidays), and started singing. Then she started dancing. Then she insisted my youngest son and I sing and dance with her. She was full of energy. 😊 We laughed and giggled, and I was exhausted after a few songs.

The next day, after waking up later than usual, our exchange student came out sharing she couldn’t get to sleep the night prior until the early hours of the morning. “Do you think it was the energy drink?” I asked. I knew she rarely drinks caffeine, and was surprised to see her with the energy drink the day before. “Oh right,” she said. “I was wondering if that energy drink was the cause of our impromptu karaoke,” I said. “Yes! I had too much energy I needed to get out.” We talked about how fun the karaoke was, but how much more enjoyable the day can be when you get a good nights rest. She’s rethinking future energy drinks, at least for the time being. 😊

What gives your child extra energy? Does your teen struggle with sleep?

Impossible

My youngest is doing theatre in high school. The school has a reputation for putting on Broadway quality shows. It was amazing when he got a part in the Spring Musical as a freshman (only five others, of a cast of 65, joined him).

In elementary school, he enjoyed theatre practice. In high school, he’s found it’s more serious, takes more time, and the stakes are higher (some kids are hoping to make a career with their abilities). Sometimes he’s found what was being asked of him impossible. My son hasn’t enjoyed theatre most of the year because of the intensity of it all – learning dance routines, songs, choreography, and more. While we told him he was committed to seeing the musical through, he voiced doubts about wanting to continue beyond this year (sad for his father and I because he’s pretty good at theatre and has been the one school activity he’s been willing to participate in).

The play, Cinderella, opened last week. Even though we had the hiking scare and he sprained his ankle, the brace he wore allowed him to perform. With each performance his enjoyment of theatre has returned. Unsure if he’s enjoying the fruits of his labor — seeing that he learned all the dances, songs, movement, or the audiences response is getting him to change his view — with tons of applause throughout the show because the performance, stage design, tech crew, and orchestra are just that good. The best part, he’s interested in continuing theatre beyond this year.

A song in the play is titled, “Impossible”, and it seems fitting for my son…thinking something is impossible only to figure out it’s possible after all. 😊

What has your child figured out is possible?

Hawaiian Rainbow

Have you ever sang a silly song with your child?

My son was in a music concert a few months ago. His class sang the song, “Hawaiian Rainbow.” It had a catchy tune, and told my son when he was finished, “We’re going to sing this song the next time we see a rainbow!” He looked at me like, oh, mom!

Sure enough when we were on Spring Break, we saw a rainbow and I burst into song, only I couldn’t remember the lyrics, so I improvised.

Here is how the song is supposed to go:

Hawaiian rainbows white clouds roll by
I see your colors against the sky
Hawaiian rainbows it seems to me
Come from the mountains down to the sea

And here is how I sang it:

Hawaiian rainbows white clouds roll by
You show your colors against the sky
Hawaiian rainbows it seems to me
That I’ve got two boys who are very wiggly

My boys squealed with delight. “Mom, that’s not how the song goes!” “It isn’t?,” I protested. They knew I was kidding. That was the beginning of singing Hawaiian Rainbow numerous times over the next several days. Every time getting the lyrics just slightly wrong. It always made us laugh, and it made the trip that much more memorable and enjoyable. I know I’ll think of it every time I see a rainbow.

How do you make your family trips more memorable?