My Real Life

Last night was Baby Monkey’s last celebration (concert) at nursery school.

Bittersweet feels like such a cliche term, but I honestly can’t think of a better term to describe it.

He did great.

He sat in his seat and sang the songs and did the motions and was the perfect little Pre-K performer.

And it made me sad.

Which is ridiculous.

And I know it.

However…

The fact that he sat still and did what he was supposed to do, and afterward even commented to his teachers that he knew not to do anything silly during the concert signifies a maturation since his last concert in December.

It shows that my little baby is truly growing up.

He’s ready to move on to Kindergarten and leave baby things behind.

And it makes me want to weep and wail and rend my clothes and throw myself in front of a bus.

Because he’s a baby.

He’s my baby.

Having a new baby doesn’t make him any less my baby than having him made Monkey in the Middle any less my baby, or sharing shoes with Monkey Girl and having her be almost as tall as me makes her any less my baby.

I’m all about giving them wings so they can fly, but it just feels too soon.

And, isn’t that the way of motherhood?

For 3 years I’ve wanted this kid to sit still and sing the songs and do the motions.

When he finally does, it rips out my heart.

Let this serve as a warning to you…

Pre-K graduation ain’t gonna be pretty.

So, Baby Monkey had his Celebration (Christmas Concert) at Pre-K last night.

He was so excited to sing.

And sing he did.

Of course, he did so with his own, personal style.

Adding some sound effects here and there.

Goofing around on stage with his friend, who was sitting next to him. (Never understand why they let friends sit together at a concert)

Yet, he’s a character, and his fooling around was actually kinda funny.

Real Man and I tried to be stern but we couldn’t help ourselves.

And we laughed.

And laughed.

And laughed.

Afterward, I said, “Why were you fooling around?”

He said, “Because my friends were fooling around.”

I said, “Nice deflection.”

Then, he turns to me with the big, innocent eyes and says “Mama…do you love me even when I’m fooling around?”

Aye caramba.

That one is going to be the death of me.

But, at least I’ll die smiling!

Tonight was Baby Monkey’s celebration at nursery school.

You may remember that the winter celebration was an exercise in futility.

He didn’t sing.

He didn’t make the movements.

He made lots of funny faces, but none of them were related to anything that was supposed to be happening on that stage.

He was 3.

Now, he’s 4.

This time, he did much better. 

He sang and did the motions for two of the five songs.

He’s improving.

The rest of the time, he played with the zipper on his sweater.

Made funny faces.

Giggled with his best buddy, Jack.

He was 4.

I’m so in love with this kid, sometimes I can barely breathe.

Enjoy some of our images of tonight’s celebration.

Maybe next winter we’ll get three out of five songs, and maybe by his last celebration, next spring, we may get him to sing all five!

But, I wouldn’t hold your breath.