It’s a great day
Today is going to be one of the good days. My son has been in drama this trimester, and the 30min play they are doing is Dr. Doolittle. And finally my son, who has a relatively clear speaking voice and a good singing voice, got the lead role. Primarily, he tells me, because no one else wanted it. He plays good old Dr. Doolittle who talks to the animals and helps them with their medical problems while the town folk look on in disbelief. That is the simple version of the story. The day Alex came home and told me about the play and what role he had recieved, he calmly informed me that it was the old Dr. Doolittle story and not the new one. I smiled and tried not to laugh as I explained to my ten year old that for me the real Dr. Doolittle movie was not the crude Eddie Murphy version, but the Rex Harrison musical that caught our imagination with the two-headed Pushme-Pullyou and the floating island and the giant pink sea snail. Alex has played many roles in his literacy block drama class, and in all of them, he has been one of the kids who stood out because he would speak loud enough to be heard. Alex also has a nice singing voice and can sing the actual tune of the solo he is doing, which cracks me up since I can’t get him to sing at church.
I’m addicted to performing, and it has always frustrated me that my children who have really good skills are a bit indifferent to their abilities. They have other interests that take precedence to their singing or acting interests. I have not made the mistake, I hope, of being a stage mom, but to see my kids be good at something that I like to do and wish I had the time to do more of is really a thrill for me. Yes I’m living vicariously through my children, and as long as I’m not ignoring what they want to do, when they do something I like to do, I can take enjoyment from it.
