EXCUSE ME????
When anyone tells a parent (me) that they can’t “get to”, “pick up” or “have their child right now” an unreasonable and somewhat violent feeling surfaces (in me). That person may very well be right, enforcing the rules and doing their job but telling a parent, on a school night, that they (me) can’t have their child right now even though that child has finished performing in the recital and it is already past her bedtime and there is still over and hour left in the bloody program can (did) result in that parent (me) causing a minor scene until a small crowd of other bulldog backstage mothers backed her up.
I knew I was outnumbered and I knew I was trying to break the rules (each child deserves the same audience and recognition….blahdadeeblahblahblah) but I was TIRED. And I wanted my child.
And if she (the lead bulldog) didn’t have all those hip-hop moms (yes, these were actually mothers who performed in the recital *roiling eyes as I type*) behind her, I would have taken off my shoe and smacked my way through Jerry Springer style.
But, alas, I was outnumbered…
My girl rocked though…even if she had to wear her least favorite color (pink)
and dance to her “nemesis” (Hannah Montana).
PS – Bulldog, you’re on my list.
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“Dance mothers” are whole unique group of women. Similar to Cheerleader moms – they are known to kill those who get in their way. Maybe next year you will luck out with the 2 pm performance! Great weekend though!
LOL!!
That’s why they chose that woman to man the desk – because she can “out bull dog” people like you who try to sneak their kids out…
Our dance lady doesn’t do recitals – she does the shows – complete with story lines and a gazillion costume changes for a $30 costume fee (yes, it’s a bargain!). They don’t last more than 1.5 hours and nobody complains because you KNOW when the end is. :-)
Alas, we too, have our program coming up. Sleeping Beauty this weekend and then LLB and I are DONE!!! ALLL DOOONE!!! Of course we still have to make it through the dress rehearsal from hell….
xox
LBC
It’s so awesome that those moms got to realize their onetime FlyGirl aspirations!
**slapping forehead**
I’m with ya, girl.
I hate that! You just needed my dad, though. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I was in honor band and the concert went way late because it was combined with some sort of dancing thing and a fashion show and whatnot. I had played and my dad wanted out of there – my sister was 3 years younger and was getting crazy, and while my dad had ME, he didn’t have my clarinet, which I needed at school the next day. He went up against the bulldog, who gleefully told him that he couldn’t come back stage to get my instrument because there were girls changing back there. He was irate at this point, so he shouted “Then tell them to shut their eyes, ’cause I’m coming in!” and he marched back, grabbed my clarinet, and off we went. I was mortified at the time, but as a parent I can certainly understand the sentiment. Good on your girl for hating pink and HM, too! That’s one cool girlie you got there.
Geez. I would gladly help you take out the bulldog. They’re KIDS for crying out loud. She sounds all military and stuff. Bad form to be sure.
ps.. uber cool pants. Does she get to keep em?
I think I would have tried to barf on her shoes and said, “I’m sick. Now can I have my daughter?”
Of course, I’m just mean that way. :
I don’t understand the thinking behind some of the time issues myself. You know they know it is too late for many kids to be out on a school night. I would have been ready to leave too,
Ha! Nice to see people standing up for common sense!
That is when you should have started to vomit…sorry I’m not feeling well and really must leave. Where is my child?
Oh if only we could throw up on command.
Wait, the moms danced too?
No need to beat them. That’s punishment enough.
I HATE when kid functions go super late on school nights. HATE. With an unreasonably hot passion.
There were mothers who performed too?
HAHAHA losers.
I LOVE that your daughter hates pink and considers Hannah Montana her “nemesis”…that is so awesome I can hardly stand it.
That whole “No leaving after your kid’s part is done” thing always seemed so arbitrary to me, like: “We know you just came here to see your own child; after all, it’s super creepy when people who DON’T have kids/relatives in the show turn up to watch, but LET’S ALL JUST PRETEND WE’RE REALLY SUPER INTERESTED IN THE WHOLE THING.”
Wow. I’m rather surprised at the hatred towards the dance recitals and the moms! I’ve been through the whole rigamorole. The studio I’m at has an adult class and they are in the recital – but can opt out. I would rather have a mom who wishes she had been in dance come and have her moment than to live vicariously through her child. It’s not being a loser – it’s fufilling a dream. It also happens to be wonderful low impact exercise. I know one mom who lost 65 pounds dancing! (not me, I tend to lean towards marshmallow-ness).
Of course, our stuff is on weekend afternoons and it’s an hour and a half. But there are always people who think that they shouldn’t have to follow a rule because it’s arbitrary. Guess what? It isn’t. Just like the mom who brought everyone hot chocolate this weekend for recital (in 80 degree weather! and they wore white! and they were 4! Thanks!)
Seriously, that kind of attitude is just disrespectful. Would you leave a professional show in the middle of a performance? It’s disruptive to the audience and it sends a message to your child that they are better than others. Ick. (You probably also think the no flash photography rule is stupid and have never seen someone fall off the stage and break their pelvis because someone went ahead and ignored the rules).
I suggest not doing dance if you’re this uptight about such things – or at least not doing the recital. Right now you’re probably already seen as the “crazy one” and everyone is praying you don’t come back.
Of course, I say this since I was one of the backstage moms and had to deal with people who flipped out over having to follow the rules this past weekend. If I had a problem with a rule (and I did with several), I talked about it with the director before the show. That way, it avoided the whole temper tantrum display.
Becky,
First of all, I wanted to thank you for your comment. I really appreciate you offering the other side.
You are right on quite a few things here but I want to clarify myself.
1. When I wrote this post, I was venting. My blog. My opinions. My crazy head. People read it. Puzzling, I know.
2. I knew I wasn’t following the rules – I just didn’t care at that point. (And either did man behind me who was taking flash photography – something I consider in extremely poor taste.)
3. I agree with you that I was wrong. Totally. What I didn’t like was the way the lady in charge backstage got right up in my face. I also didn’t appreciate her choice of words. Also, I didn’t expect the confrontation so I may have reacted badly. May have. I do have an ever so slight temper.
4. I would never let any child drink hot chocolate while wearing white -or any kind of dance costume. Believe me, I know exactly how much those things cost. Once the kids are dressed, I think they should be rolled up in saran wrap with holes poked out so they can breathe and stacked nicely in groups until it’s their time to go on stage.
5. Your comment about me being “the crazy one” really made me laugh. You must be new here.
Welcome Becky.
Hmmmm, you crazy? Then that makes me…..OK, we won’t go there.
Anyway–yes, I understand the frustration. As far as everyone deserving the same recognition–hello–we all know it’s family members and friends that go to watch (are forced to attend) these events.
I get the rules; they should also get that each household has rules, like bedtimes.
I totally would have been like, um, so I just want to confirm before I dial 911 that you are not allowing me to have my child, or would have hugged her with gratitude, ran out the freakin’ door and googled the nearest margarita hangout.
And your description of dance mothers makes me think there is a very fine line between them and *shudder* gymnastic mothers.
Jenn,
When are you moving to Virginia?
Now please.
xo