Sunday morning our youngest auditioned for The Nutcracker with Ballet Arizona. Sinjin has been interested in ballet for some time, but he already takes piano and gymnastics lessons. I told him if he added ballet he had to drop something else because financially I can’t add another activityl. He decided he didn’t want to leave piano or gymnastics so we work on his ballet at home when we have time. When we found about the auditions he was super excited to give it a try.
Sinjin woke up with a headache that may have been allergy related due to the storms that came through on Saturday night. After a slow start, he got up and ate some breakfast. I told him to put on clean clothes and off we went.
We arrived plenty early – like the first people there early. No less than three times Sinjin was asked if he needed to change into his audition clothes. Because Sinjin doesn’t take dance he doesn’t have dance clothes. Stupid me, I assumed there would be other boys there in regular clothes. I was wrong. Sinjin was the only boy there in gym shorts and a t- shirt and no ballet shoes. We just kept assuring him that it didn’t matter what he was wearing as long as he could follow the dance instruction. By the way, he was also the only boy with long hair wearing a buff and I pinned his number down low like you would at a race, but everyone else pinned their numbers high on their chest. We were clearly fish out of water.
Sinjin woke up with a headache that may have been allergy related due to the storms that came through on Saturday night. After a slow start, he got up and ate some breakfast. I told him to put on clean clothes and off we went.
We arrived plenty early – like the first people there early. No less than three times Sinjin was asked if he needed to change into his audition clothes. Because Sinjin doesn’t take dance he doesn’t have dance clothes. Stupid me, I assumed there would be other boys there in regular clothes. I was wrong. Sinjin was the only boy there in gym shorts and a t- shirt and no ballet shoes. We just kept assuring him that it didn’t matter what he was wearing as long as he could follow the dance instruction. By the way, he was also the only boy with long hair wearing a buff and I pinned his number down low like you would at a race, but everyone else pinned their numbers high on their chest. We were clearly fish out of water.
On our way to the audition
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Minutes before his audition
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They announce 5 minutes until the boys go back for auditions. They also announce if any boys have not changed into audition clothes they should do so now. They might as well have ended that sentence with “we mean you Sinjin”. Soon the boys were lined up and there were only 5 maybe 6 of them. Small group. At one point the boys came back through the lobby and Sinjin was smiling. I took that as a good sign. Soon the boys came and Sinjin handed me a packet of paper. I asked questions, but he didn’t really seem to understand what if anything had happened. He just said they had him write his name down next to party boy. I just assumed we would get a call or email at a later date and we left. As we were getting into the car I opened the packet. “Sinjin, you’re in – you got a part,” I yelled. He went white with shock and then he started crying. Like really crying. Are you okay we asked? “I’m just so happy,” he replied.
I will never forget that moment. Not just because I saw my own child accomplish a goal and experience the happiness that comes from that, but because it reminded me of how we should all feel when we reach a goal. I know for me, my best is never good enough. Even when I reach a goal I always regret choices and wonder if I could have been just a little bit better. Sinjin shed tears of relief at going into the unfamiliar, trying your best and getting the reward. If he was nervous, he never showed it. If he felt out of place because of his clothes, he never said it. Instead what we heard him say was, “ I’m the best at this.” His belief in himself was rewarded today. The pure relief and joy I saw from him getting that part will stay with me forever, not only as a mother, but as a competitor.
Sinjin couldn't wait to buy his ballet clothes. He came home and put them on to practice immediately. The best part about Sinjin, he has multiple times today told us thank you.
Believe in yourself with unwavering confidence and thank the people who help get you there. Lessons from the 10 year-old – the, smartest person in our house.
I will never forget that moment. Not just because I saw my own child accomplish a goal and experience the happiness that comes from that, but because it reminded me of how we should all feel when we reach a goal. I know for me, my best is never good enough. Even when I reach a goal I always regret choices and wonder if I could have been just a little bit better. Sinjin shed tears of relief at going into the unfamiliar, trying your best and getting the reward. If he was nervous, he never showed it. If he felt out of place because of his clothes, he never said it. Instead what we heard him say was, “ I’m the best at this.” His belief in himself was rewarded today. The pure relief and joy I saw from him getting that part will stay with me forever, not only as a mother, but as a competitor.
Sinjin couldn't wait to buy his ballet clothes. He came home and put them on to practice immediately. The best part about Sinjin, he has multiple times today told us thank you.
Believe in yourself with unwavering confidence and thank the people who help get you there. Lessons from the 10 year-old – the, smartest person in our house.
Ready for the ballet!
