Wish me luck and I will let you know how it went.

I SO TOTALLY ENJOYED THIS DISCUSSION!!! It definitely took me back--my kids are now 29 and 24--and I was LMAO reading about the Elvis channeler! My son was quite shy when he was little, so much so that at one Christmas pageant performance (he was part of the choir and was in the front row) he had his scarf tied around his neck and the little b---r shoved it up his face so only his eyes were showing. I was so disappointed I could not get a proper picture and I kept motioning him to remove it. He completely ignored me, looking up, down, and sideways--never at me. He outgrew his shyness, though, so much so that in high school he was in school plays all the time, and he actually won an award in the Sears-sponsored series of plays (this is an annual competition) for high schools in Ontario. Just so you can picture how much of a ham he is now: when he graduated from Ryerson U a few years back, when his name was called, he had a whole cheering section, and he sauntered on stage, faced the audience, held both arms out, and bowed to his shrieking mates--keeping the University president waiting to hand him his diploma. It was funny and mortifying (for me!) at the same time. The girl was always into organizing stuff for her school. She was in band and we had to be there (on pain of excommunication!). Not that we would have missed it. The first few shows when the band was just starting out were excruciatingly painful to hear and watch, but it was a real pleasure to see them blossom. They were so good that they were invited to play at the Beach Jazz Festival for several years running. She was president of the School Band her last two years in high school and I think it made her a way better person. I firmly believe that school activities give the kids the discipline to work in teams, take direction well, and showcase their talents. Plus of course, we parents are all so proud and amused. Funnier at times than Mr. Bean and Benny Hill combined! Thanks for taking me down memory lane, my fine feathered friend, it definitely brightens the weekend for me, suffering as I am from separation anxiety from my daughter, who went on a road trip to NYC with her chums, leaving Torongo at 3 am today. Pats on the back to the thespians in your family! {{{{*}}}} And to you, for sharing the whole experience with us.

OH..MY..WORD! How did you stand it? I don't have children, but have been to important plays for other people's children. Watching them is nice, but when the other kids go crazy my mind aches. Biblical characters doing the limbo? That MUST have been a site to see. My mom was once the principal of my school, and she made sure that the plays the kids did were not too long and they were well thought out and were entertaining. She just didn't want the parents to suffer since she had been through several painful performances from my class and my sister's class when we had been at a previous school.

LOL Woodpigeon I can just imagine the scene!! Sadly my kids have grown older now so I do miss all that. I remember once my son played Herard in the Nativity play, he was so nervous he ended up with coldsores all over his mouth. On the day I was so nervous for him and the play was not very good, some of the kids were in the proper costumes, while others weren't. One boy was wearing an Arsenal top! Anyway he came out and said his line "Now go and find him" with such feeling I was nearly crying. My mum and I agreed it was the best bit of acting from the whole pay, biased, me, no!! Good luck with the next show, just think all that smiling is as good as a face lift. No botox for you!!! Have fun hee hee.

Great, good job you and your kid had done,anyways best of luck for future. Have a good day.

I always thought that the school productions were way too long, but I wouldn't miss going to them. My son played saxophone in the school band, and was in many shows and competitions. I never missed one. I loved seeing him perform. I used to enjoy seeing my friends kids perform also. It was amazing to see how fast they improved, from the time they started in band, and on through high school. My daughter was in a Christmas program once, when she played a Christmas Tree. She didn't have any lines, but just had to stand there dressed like a tree while the rest of the class stood around her and sang a song. It was so cute, I wish I had taken pictures.

I teach in a school where kids range in age from 7 to 12. Some of their performance are amazing. You will be astounded by their talent. For example, this 10 yr old kid put up a solo display of his Wushu talents. He was the receipient of a gold award in some national competition and the parents who turned up there were pretty impressed

sorry about the jaw and it is worthwhile watching our kids performing on stage. My daughter also danced in her school day function. She danced the role of Radha an indian flok heroine.

The advantage of our school Christmas concerts is that they would do class performances, starting from lowest grade up. The benefit in that was those parents whose children performed early on in the show left. Since the gym is very small, it was always standing room only so when those parents (with the little children with them) left, it gave the parents of the older children a chance to sit down. This year they are doing graduation in that same small gym. I don't know who they are going to do it with 64 grade 8 students and their families. There is NOT going to be enough room. Add to that some sort of reception of coffee, juice, finger foods, cookies, desserts, where in the world are they going to find room for all this? They used to do the graduation at the church (lots of room there) but the new priest doesn't like it. Pisses me off really. June 26th - liable to be pretty hot too. Geez! My kids are more involved in sports than school plays (not that the school has them - usually just Christmas concerts). I have much greater pride watching my children play sports then seeing them standing on a stage with a bunch of other kids only to find my kid is in the back row! We never had a problem with photography not being allowed.

How exciting have fun, have you got ear plugs...lol. We havnt done anything like that as yet, but I really have something to look forward too,Im sure that they are all like that in some way.

This brings back memories of the performances when my son was at school. I used to help out with a lot of the shows so I was generally spared the agony of sitting through a couple of hours of babies crying, toddlers running riot and chattering mums. However, when I did get to sit and *enjoy the show* I found myself feeling as you do hun, sitting with a fixed grin and hoping that my son would acquit himself well.

The first time I saw my eldest girl performed in her school, I felt like the proudest bunny in the world. I feasted all her movements and kept a good hold of my videocam to get the best shot. I was never tired of watching my girls performing or acting in their school. The feelings are always the same. The pride and admiration for my girls. Last school year, my youngest graduated valedictorian in her prep school. She gave a speech that melted my heart and gee...my two long ears were standing proudly, LOL!

I went to a play of my friends niece pre-school years ago and never again. I had the same problem,crying kids,kids running rampant with no supervision,and cell phones going off.Never again will i subject myself to that,lol

Wood pigeon I love Joseph - the Calypso is fantastic - I would have loved to see that although I may hve suggested that the mother of the screaming baby may wish to feed it or gag it (only joking but I hAave been the mother of that screaming child and instead of spoiling for everyone removed myself and her from the hall) bet you were so proud of him! I am probably the only mother who LOVES going to these performances, as well as school assemblies, even though I have been to hundreds (my eldest is almost 14) and am starting all over again with my 5 year old and I am still enthusiastic and excited at every one- well I never said I wasn't odd! lol I have many incidents but at the moment I can only think of the last one as my face burns every time I think of it! At the beginning of the year 5 year old Niamh won a special award for fantastic counting and number skills (she has been working on p2 maths, since a few weeks after going in to p1) and at the end of the Celebrating Success assembly had to sit with some others at the front of the stage to have photos taken! All parents were still seated in the hall and my lovely daughter was sitting on a bench, legs spread wide with her lovely sparkling white pants on show for all to see! She was totally oblivious and happily smiling for the cameras - luckily her teacher spotted her and rushed to get her to close her legs! It was just like THAT Judy Finnegan moment as all the parents tried and failed to stifle their laughter - she is so ladylike! xxxx

I actually only got to see my one son play basketball this year. I made sure I was at each game to cheer him on. Otherwise the only other things I got to watch them do was receive their awards which to me is still a great honor. I often go with my fiancee to watch her children's performances. Her daughter always makes sure that she knows her lines but for some reason she is always hidden by a bigger child so it is hard to video tape. Her oldest son is the type of child the teacher has to threaten to behave. I find it more entertaining to watch that show at times. Yes, we definitely enjoy watching the children perform. Sometimes if we aren't able to enjoy the program at the school we have the children repeat their performances at home.

I'm not yet a parent but I can't wait to have stories like these to tell! I still remember my first play and how excited I was and my father always tells me that having kids is the best thing in the world because you get to relive your childhood through your children. What a blessing!!!! Can't wait!