Being Surprised and Amazed by Your Kids
Last night was my 10 yr old daughter's Winter Concert - rescheduled because of the blizzards we had on the originally scheduled week. Act of Nature - what can you do? Well... I knew she had tried out for a solo in one of the musical numbers - I just didn't know much else about it. I was pretty sure that it was singing, but I don't even think that was clearly laid out for me before-hand.
So we go, and listen to the 3rd and 4th graders, and then a little into the 5th graders, Liza leans over and tells me that the solo is in the final part - where they brought out all the kids that performed and they do a final singing number. OK... nice to know. So we listen to the last number for the 5th graders and then they start to bring out everyone.
Once everyone is ready they give the microphone to Nina, and the music starts. We were pretty far away, so I couldn't really tell when she started to sing - at least I didn't think so... because I was convinced that this was a recording of someone else.
I was blown away.. She'd never done a lot of singing around the house, and that voice... standing all alone in front of 600+ people at the beginning of the song... I was blown away. I had no idea she had that kind of voice. I could see Liza tearing up because of the incredible courage it took to do this. Let's face it - kids in grade school can be downright vicious to one another over the littlest of things.
Yet there she was, singing this song with the most incredible voice I've ever heard from a 10 yr old. OK, so it's not time to ship her to a record studio, but still... there she was, and her courage and talent so exceeded my expectations I was speechless. I have watched her skateboard, play football, play softball, basketball, do schoolwork, draw, play on the computer - I thought I knew her. I didn't.
It's amazing when your kids totally blow your expectations away. I can't say that I had a lot to do with that, but I had a little, and even a little bit of credit for that makes me feel pretty amazing. She is one amazing kid.