So your school ages child comes bounding out of their classroom after school clutching an invitation to their much rehearsed school play.
You are of course so proud and can’t wait to see their performance, yet the whole experience it going to be one full of stress if you have toddlers in tow!!
This is of course my own experience and I’m sure lots of you have wonderful little ones that sit there watching intently as the play is performed. In fact I have sat through many a performance jealously looking on at a well behaved toddler sitting with their box of raisins taking everything in without moving a muscle. After five children however I am still longing for that day.
I always start out well prepared with non messy/crunchy foods to pacify for as long as possible, drinks that can’t be easily tipped over the poor person we are sitting next to, toys that will keep them amused without being massively noisy or can be rolled into the audience with no hope of getting back; which will obviously cause mass hysteria!
Through experience though even with my military precision planning nothing will stop me from having to fireman carry them screaming and shouting from the hall.
My sweaty palms start the moment the headmaster introduces the children followed by the same sentence about removing noisy children that I can’t help but think is always aimed at me.
After this point they usually spot their older sibling on the stage and from there continue to bellow their name whist waving furiously. Once this is over and the singing begins we usually get a rendition of a beautifully sung nursery rhyme at the top of their voice which has no connection to what is going on on stage.
This causes uproar from the audience and the hundreds of children which just adds fuel to the fire as they are loving the attention.
If we make it this far every toy, set of keys, bit of rubbish is then emptied from my bag in a bid to keep them quiet.
Lastly boredom really kicks in and they need to be removed. Usually before their sibling has got to do their main part which in turn then sends a massive wave of guilt as I am bundling a screaming child through the door whist looking at a forlorn face standing on the stage.
I then have to congratulate my poor performer and try to convince them that I could hear every word through a fully closed fire door!
I am sure that a free classroom and a classroom assistant keeping a watchful eye on bored toddlers would save a lot of stress on everyone’s part and would leave parents to enjoy their offsprings performance and I will be taking this suggestion to out PTA soon.
How do you cope with little ones in the same situation?
Please let me know if you are in the same position as me as it would make me feel so much better!!
