Tonight was the opening night for my kids’ musical at their middle school. Levi and Lilly were part of the production of Meet Me In St. Louis, which isn’t a show that’s typically done by middle school students. To be honest, Kim and I were a little concerned for them. The rehearsals hadn’t been smooth, even as recently as Wednesday night’s dress rehearsal. But my friend KimD reminded me of the old stage adage: bad rehearsals mean good shows. Turns out that there’s some truth to that, at least for this show.
I don’t know what it was like backstage, but the show was well received. The singing was tremendous, the acting was believable, and the sets were great. The chorus did a much better job than they’ve been doing, and the principals nailed their roles.
The thing that garnered the most attention, at least based on the reaction of the audience: Levi’s on-stage smooching with his real-life girlfriend. After each kiss, Annabelle would turn around in her seat (in front of me) and hold up the count. She was counting the kisses! After the first smackeroo, one of Levi’s buddies yelled out, “Nice!” The first thing that Annabelle said as the lights came up was the number 4–4 kisses.
We’re not making a big deal about it, although every parent we talked to after the show asked us about the kisses. We’re looking at it as an opportunity to dialogue with Levi about boundaries in dating and the proper way for an 8th grade couple to show affection. I am so grateful for the relationship that Kim and I have with each of our kids. We want to them to talk with us about everything going on in their lives, to feel a sense of love and trust so that we can discuss the important things in life.
Levi was beaming tonight after the show. He told me that he loves performing, and that he’s not even nervous when he’s on stage. I am glad that he’s found a niche. He’s discovered an area of talent, where he feels affirmed and encouraged, and he’s working to improve his skills.
What hobbies or activities did you pick up in middle school or high school that you still find enjoyable? When did you discover your niche?
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