slow and steady

Once again, Callum falls prey to my capricious whim. It's not all that capricious, really. But I should have paid better heed to his resistance.

This weekend was the preview of "Aesop's Fabulous Fable Factory," the fall play that his school's theater program puts on. It's a sweet show, featuring four or so different fables. Callum is, can you tell? The tortoise in "The Tortoise and the Hare."

He never came out and said point-blank that he didn't want to do it, but all the signs were there. Silence when I brought it up. Lack of unbridled enthusiasm.

I kinda made him anyway.

When we broke it down, he had two specific fears: that he'd be the only 6th grade boy, and that it would be hard to manage the homework on practice days. "Oh, come on!" I reassured him. You can see where this is going. He was right on both counts.

It's such a tricky thing as your children get older, to know when it's right to push and when to give way. So many times in his young life, he wouldn't be doing something if Neel and I hadn't been behind him, giving him a nudge (walking comes to mind). Since starting, he hasn't complained much at all (for our boy, that's pretty good!), but I can tell his heart isn't in it. It's his last chance to take part in the program, and I so wanted it to work out.

But I have to remember that it's not about my own desires for him, but more about what he really needs. I don't regret it necessarily, but I've learned a lesson here. Pay better attention. Listen more.

Still, can you fault this mama for wanting to see her boy on the stage (a place he's long loved) one last time?

Comments

[Mark]

Kids change. It's hard to go with the flow, isn't it?m.

[Lauren]

Mark, I am not so good at going with the flow.

[liz]

...and the learning never ends, Lauren. I'm still struggling with my musically gifted children (Alyssa on bassoon and Alanna on oboe among many other instruments) not playing music anymore! It's killing me and yet I have to keep QUIET and not interfere. I went through the same disappointment when they stopped playing basketball, put down the field hockey sticks and stopped taking their ballet lessons...agony! :-)

[Lauren]

Liz!!! I don't know if this is depressing or reassuring! Your girls are so lovely and talented (despite the fact that they aren't playing instruments OR softball); I'll go with reassuring! xo

[Julie Smith]

It's true! It's so hard to know when to nudge and when to just let it go. Certainly can't fault you for wanting to see him on stage one last time. :)

[Lauren]

I have every hope that he'll try out for plays again once he hits middle school. Fingers crossed!