Ever have that moment when you’re just going along with life, day after day, not unhappily but definitely complacently, and all of a sudden something comes hurtling out of left field and you are suddenly unsure of anything!?! I think we all have had a few of those experiences, perhaps related to the number of years we’ve been on the planet, but not necessarily. Childbirth for example. Honestly for me it didn’t matter if it was the first or the fifth. Each brought a whole new set of changes with him or her. There are books , blogs, tv shows, and endless people offering you all kinds of advice about how to raise your child from the cellular level on up. I have found very few that offer advice on how to deal with a child who has a dream that is so big and so different from anything that I had in my own vision of raising my family.
A little background. I am a not quite 50 year old mother of 5 wonderful school aged children. I’ve been married to my husband for nearly 20 years and we both work, one of us in healthcare and the other in law enforcement. We have a very “normal” life in general although obviously a busy one with the 5 kids. They each have their own personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and talents. We are a very traditional, some might say conservative, Christian family who still eats supper together every night, head to church on Sundays and have lots and lots of rules..much to the older kids’ chagrin. Our 3rd and 4th children are a set of twins and the older of the 2 is the reason for this blog to exist.
This child of ours was clearly “different” than the others from the beginning. He could sing before he could speak in full sentences and not just sing…he could SING! Where the heck did that come from? He has incredible rhythm and grace , both of which my husband claims. He is incredibly sensitive and intuitive; I’ll claim that thank you. He demonstrated a great ability for acting by the age of 2. At 3 he broke into his older sister’s dance class and refused to leave, and by the age of 5 we were hearing the term “triple threat”. Any of you know what I’m talking about?? Still makes my heart rate increase and I can start to twitch! This was followed by “oh,man, that kid’s got what it takes!” And “good luck with that his is going to be a wild ride!” Even worse than that was this kid of ours clearly had plans! He spent all of his free time learning music, dancing, begging us to get online with him and search for the who’s who of theater and music and see how they got where they are. Ummmm…hello?? God?? This was not in my plans! Why on earth would you give me a kid like this?? I’m a suburban mom , perhaps even an introvert, who created this quiet world of mine in which I am very content. Before this child of mine I would scoff at the news stories of child entertainers with thoughts of “those poor kids, their parents making them do this so they can live their dreams vicariously. NO kid could possibly be driving that bus!” Oh boy…was I wrong!
Now at age 12 my “triple threat” has managed to drag us kicking and screaming through the the last 6 years and we are about to embark on our first national Broadway Tour. When I say kicking and screaming I am not exaggerating! I still am not quite sure how I lost control of the “ride” or which turn led us here. Was it agreeing last minute to let him audition for the local theater with his sister…he was cast in that show and then virtually every other show in that theater for 3 years. When I let him audition for the local singing competition because his teacher told him he’d be great? Or was it that workshop offered by the “Broadway people” that seemed to start the slide to the big city that we never seemed to be able to slow down? Deep sigh… Any way we look at it I believe we are right where we should be, for my son, and for the rest of our family. Of course I had concerns and on the list of concerns ,quite a ways down on the list, was what am I supposed to do while on tour? I’ll go crazy without 5 kids, a husband, a dog, a house, and a job to manage. Several people suggested writing. Finally, my mom, a retired English teacher and published author said, “How much would you have loved to have someone with your knowledge to turn to for advice as (we’ll call him this) Zack was pulling you along this path? You have to blog. There’s probably a parent out there in your shoes right now wondering what to do…and you have five kids!” So here it is…my blog…I hope it helps someone. I’ll do my best to offer topics on the issues that we found most challenging (getting started, auditioning, who the players are) but am more than happy to hear from you readers with questions. I’ll help if I can or direct you to my resources if I can’t.
Great start, MB! Pay it forward, atta girl!
Love it! I’ll be reading! Thank you!
You rock! This is going to be my best reading of the Spring! Keep it coming!
Fantastic! I’m so excited for this!
I LOVE that you are doing this and sharing your experience! I will be reading!
Love it! Well done and I look forward to reading more:)
what an exciting adventure for you and your whole terrific family!
Great job! I can’t wait to read more! This could be turned into a “How To …” book!
Great start. Keep them coming!
Wow does this ever resonate with me! I was happily raising my family, when BAM! Out of the blue, my almost 17 year old , jock son…who we have spent years cheering for on the football field and touring the northeast during the summers to watch him play lacrosse on his travel lacrosse team….walked in the kitchen and proceeded to tell me that he had gotten the lead in the spring musical. This was pretty impressive, a boy who had never had an acting class, a dance class or a voice lesson…he hadn’t even sung in the church choir…nada…was given the lead in a high school musical that was being directed by a teacher that had been thanked by another student of his…Sutton Foster upon winning her Tony. Yup, our high school theatre department is very well respected. I thought, oooh…this will be a nice addition to add to his activities list on his college applications…boy was I wrong. He fell in love with theatre. He decided this is what he wanted to pursue in college. I was like, huh? Here’s a kid in the top 1% of his class, with a year’s worth of college credits under his belt while still in high school…It was a tough pill to swallow. Last year @ this time, he was auditioning for 19 programs and ended up getting 16 offers after only a few months of training. This gave us “some”comfort. It was only through meeting other moms, like you, who had been through the process, that were/are invaluable resources that guided me through the crazy college audition nightmare, I mean process. I am still trying to accept his chosen path, to be honest.Your wisdom will be a godsend for those of us on this journey! My S will be auditioning this spring for summer work to build his resume. It will be a new journey to learn the to dos and not to dos for professional theatre. This still new theatre world is like a sorority I never intended to pledge, however I am ever so grateful to have a “sister” in this such as yourself.
Thank you! Looking forward to your next entry.
Wow! Thank YOU! Just knowing one more parent out there is in the same boat makes this blog worth writing for me!! I can’t even imagine that situation! At least I knew from day 1 and could slowly come to terms with it. Congratulations on your sons successes so far and I hope to hear about his great adventures for the summer. I hope you find what I include here helpful…I have a funny feeling you may end up being even more of a resource for me 😉
Love it. It was like talking with you. Enjoyed the humor and the insight. Keep it going. You have much to offer
OK MB…this is fantastic and now I won’t feel out of the Facebook loop. Mother knows BEST! Thanks so much for doing this…a gift to yourself and so many others!
For a blog to keep my interest it has to be vivid and melodic. Bravo MB Bravo!
What an amazing start to your own calling here! I’m hooked already & I have been privileged to see those of who you speak of from a distant sideline! You are an amazing family and firmly grounded in your faith & each other. …which is why you have been blessed with this journey! Keep sharing & encouraging your kids to follow their dreams!
YOU GO GIRL!!! Zach is not the only talented person in your family!! You are speaking of not just this Broadway adventure but all the adventures we have along our parenthood journey!!! I too will be reading your posts!
Well I know where the writing gene came from!! So well written that it feels like we are having a conversation!! Keep it up. I too will be reading every word.
I like fireside chats, and I feel all warm and cozy! Thank you, MB.