Talks A Lot

One of the big advantages of begin the youngest child in the family (although HE insists there are absolutely no advantages of being the youngest child . . . he passionately hates being the youngest in the family) is that I have not needed to bring my little guy to very many choir rehearsals.  It usually works out a big sibling of one sort or another has been able to stay with him through the years if Dr. Peds is working.

However, last Tuesday night was a storm of extra curricular activities.  I was teaching and heading to choir.  YaYa was headed to a pep band stint.  Mr. SP was competing at a swimming meet, and The Banana was delighted to be a spectator.  Dr. Peds was working, so my little guy came with me to choir.

He did wonderfully.  He sat quietly and made no disturbance at all.  He ate the supper he packed for himself in a lunch box, and even partook of a snack at break time.  It did not surprise me.  I knew it wouldn’t be a problem.

I was not, however, prepared for the interesting observations he made about the rehearsal.  In the car on the way home he said,

“Mom, what happens if the conductor forgets for a little bit at the concert that you aren’t just practicing and he starts talking all the time?”

” I don’t know, actually.  I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”

“Well, he just stops and starts ALL the time, and there’s all that talking in between.  Start.  Stop. Talk, talk, talk.  I kept thinking, ‘Why don’t you just do what you are supposed to be doing and practice the music instead of wasting all that time.'”

OK.  So my boy who TALKS ALL THE TIME might hear those words often when he’s practicing piano, because he’ll just go off on a crazy story tangent.  I giggled when he made this observation about the conductor, who I assure you, does not waste time.

But my favorite moment was when he said to me, “Sometimes I just had to stop doing the iPad for a little bit because I needed to listen to the singing.  The music was just so good.”

Given the choice to stay home or come to a rehearsal my kids would all definitely rather stay home.  Rehearsals are long.  But, because they’ve all had to come to rehearsals now and then due to our family schedule,  they have turned into amazing music appreciators, and I’m so very happy about that.