Chloe has been busily preparing for her debut on the big stage next week. She has a couple of lines to recite as well as songs she’ll be singing in a group. I think she’s less nervous than I am.
A few weeks back, we attended our first “school-wide” even at Chloe’s new school. She seemed to feel right at home, hanging out with her friends. I, on the other hand, could not get comfortable. I know none of the parents, teachers or kids. I’m not even quite sure how many of them I really want to know. I’m sure that they are all “very nice people”, but I’m not going to fit in easily, and I’m not going to try too hard either. I’m the quiet, uncomfortable wallflower, choosing to stay on the sidelines.
After the “snacks” portion of the evening, the entire fourth grade and their parents filed into the “multi-purpose room” — a gym with a stage. The bleachers pull out from the wall in a way that fills the entire gym. And these bleachers were filled with noisy people in an echo-y room. Add to that a mic that picked up the next door neighbor’s phone conversation in bits and pieces, I needed some advil, stat. After a few musical and “original poem” recitations, we were released to the classrooms. Chaos ensued.
Maybe as I slowly get to know some of the parents, I’ll enjoy these events more, but for now, I go for Chloe, who loves her new school.
