Proud Mom

As much as I might have groaned and griped about having to endure being in small town Maine all weekend, I wouldn't have traded being here for the world. The only reason I would ever tolerate the boonies for days and sleep less than five hours a night while remaining in a good mood would be for either of my children. This weekend was unexpected, enlightening and memorable.

Cheering my son on — being there to support him has always been important to me. The opportunity to do the same for my oldest was brief, as he chose a different path from sports or other school related activities. My youngest has been active in drama since the seventh grade, though, his entire life has been a series of  regular performances with little need for a stage. This is something I love about him. He makes me laugh, often to the point of crying. I'm in awe of his willingness to put himself out there in front of an audience no matter how nervous he may be. The idea of standing on a stage, the focal point of so many onlookers, sends me into a rocking boat of nausea and panic. Anyone who can overcome their nerves, remember their lines and perform without revealing their nerves is talented indeed.

I got to spend time with the other thespians in the group, as well as my son's girlfriend and her mother. It's refreshing to meet parents with similar approaches to child rearing and have no trouble maintaining conversations. It isn't easy, nor is it overly common to connect with another parent simply because your children go to school together — or in this case, are dating.

A good part of the day was spent mulling over our own desire to be more involved in the growth of this program as parents and volunteers. So much about our children's high school experience has been paving new paths and taking a chance on a new style of education, extracurricular included. While they both have experience with drama, they've never been part of a troop that was just getting its start. There is much to be appreciated in a seasoned program that has years of presence within the arts culture. Established reputations to build on, existing and healthy activity budgets and a solid network of people to make it all work well are important things that new schools and new programs have to make due without.

I am so proud of our kids for letting their passion for something drive and motivate them to put their best selves forward. They made it to the state competition level despite being part of a young, inexperienced and completely unfunded program. Their sets aren't lavish, their costumes are often their own clothes, yet somehow they managed to impress their talents and won out over several schools that had longevity and funding on their side. Without a doubt, this is a combination underdog situation and a fairy tale, and the reality is infectious because just making it this far gives us all the confidence to keep laying the foundation of what could one day be a flourishing drama program for students to come.

No matter what the outcome of tonight's competition may be, I am happy to have been here to witness and take part in this important milestone both in the school's story and in my son's life. These are the memories that never fail to create future smiles.