I would love to say that after countless hours of preparation the Bright Beginnings Preschool program went off without a hitch. BUUUUTTT, that would be lying. Well, the countless hours part is true, throw in the word voluntary, add a few hundred dollars, physical labor, mental stress, planning, practicing SEVERAL times with the children, making 200 programs, picking up cakes, and we won't mention the affects of spray adhesive in a closed space, and the program being as far from smooth as possible and THAT would be a true statement.
Planning for our final program began way back in January for me when I picked the songs that my classes would perform. I was DETERMINED that they would know the music AND the actions. And that they did. They ALL knew it. They were all REALLY good at it. But something about putting 19 three and four year olds in front of 300 people (yes, 300 people!!!) just distracts them. Only a few of the students were able to perform how we had practiced. That part was okay. I could handle the stage fright of small children. It was expected. What wasn't expected was that the sound system failed us right when we needed it. When Shannon went out to do our welcome (thank God I sent her!) the microphones did not work. JR and other church members worked for THIRTY minutes to get them going. Thirty minutes of 50 students in a small room waiting to go on stage, thirty minutes of 300 people patiently waiting to see their CUTE preschooler, and thirty minutes of Shannon standing on stage trying to decide what to do while I hid backstage so she wouldn't kill me. So, FINALLY the mikes worked and I was able to lead my classes out. One of my students had already decided she wasn't going on stage (her mom was trying to convince her otherwise) and one completely froze and was sobbing with tears at the thought of being in front of everyone (so that's two). Once up on stage, music starts, some kids are singing, others just looking cute, I try my hardest to get them to sing. BOOM, one student falls, pick him up. BOOM, another. BOOM, another. Yep, three kids fell off of the stage! FINALLY the singing part was over...whew! And I might mention that MY adorable preschooler did a FINE JOB standing on stage!! So, now came time to give out certificates and ask each child what they wanted to be when they grew up. We had several answers...a vet, a cop, a firefighter, one said a rock star, Quentin said a fisherman, and several girls said a princess (as all little girls want to be). AND I even had one BOY who said "princess" when I asked him!! The crowd enjoyed that one! It was over...my part was complete. The rest was up to Shannon and her graduating preschoolers. I went and hid in the restroom for a few minutes (I honestly considered leaving!!). I couldn't wait for the whole thing to be over. And finally it was. Yes, it was cute and they are just three and four, and yes, things happen, and it will be funny to look back on, I know all these things, but really, it was quite the night considering all that had gone into it. To give you an idea, everyone that I saw at the ball diamonds the next day could not help but laugh when they looked at me. And most insist that we send the video to America's Funniest Home Videos.
End of story. Preschool has ended and my summer at home with my kids has begun :) Thank goodness!!
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