hoe down

For a solid week, all I heard about was the Square Dance at Tripp's school. He reminded me daily that he had to be there at 5:15. Well, to be honest, there are LOTS of nights that I'm in bed at 5:15. But, I pulled myself up by my boot straps, and we headed to Tripp's school. When we first got there, as we were waiting on all the kids to arrive and find their spots, this was my son:

 Then when his teachers told him to "honor his partner", this is what happened:

 And it didn't stop for the rest of the time. I was getting SO incredibly frustrated with him. He kept saying he was "scared". Of what? I have no idea. I'm sure lots of people there were feeling sorry for the poor boy that couldn't stop crying, but this momma was just getting mad. I know that I shouldn't have been, and it was probably a lot of hormones controlling my emotions. But I just wanted him to do what EVERY other kid in the room was doing and having a great time doing it. His teacher had to come over there with him for him to even halfway participate.

He's SUPPOSED to be performing in his school play in April. I'm so scared that he's going to get on stage in front of all those people and freeze. I'm praying that the lights on stage will 'blind' him from knowing how many people will actually be in the audience (because it will definitely be a standing room only event). I think I was getting more frustrated that not only was he crying during the square dance, he wouldn't take his fingers out of his mouth. My almost six year old was standing there sucking his fingers like he was two. No, it's not the end of the world. Yes, there will be plenty of other times when my children don't do what they are "supposed to do" at a performance or function. And, of course, I still love him anyway. But I did tell him that he better not stand on stage of his school play and suck his fingers. :-(