But,
while there were instructions, these were not the reason for the messaging
frenzy.
Apparently, both our Voice coach and Hiphop teacher were suddenly unavailable (there must be some sort of conspiracy). On Monday. Our final practice day. Just two days before the actual presentation today.
Did I mention we were also suddenly two kids short? Just two, you say? We have less than 10 kids in each club. The two matter. A lot.
Oh, and, by the way, it's our first offsite Christmas party --- at Enchanted Kingdom (capacity: 20,000 people), no less. The kids will be presenting on stage in front of a huge audience outside of our humble Homeschool community.
In just a few hours, we were fully staffed with pairs of Teacher Mommies and a Junior High School Ate (just mildly forced *wink*) volunteering to help the kids practice their songs and dance number. AND we had kids coming in as reinforcements. Yehey!
Monday rolled in with the Teacher Mommies, Ate (big sister) and the participating kids coaching (and semi-arguing with) each other on the presentations. Monday ended with a partly decent output and a solemn promise to practice at home.
Today I woke up feeling it came way too soon. But I found comfort in seeing that everyone was there and raring to give 200%. We ran through the entire musical twice. After the second run through, it felt like we needed 10 more. But the show must already go on by then, so we dove right into it with a little prayer and a little faith. And, somehow, the actual presentation just magically came together.
It was beautiful!
What we lacked in professional training, practice and technical experience, we more than made up with a lot of heart. There was tremendous love in the chaos. And, although I did not have a chance to take photos, "Kodak moments" (happy to use a term the millennials do not know, for a change) abounded.
These are some of the snapshots I stored in my memory bank:
- The gloomy weather giving way to fine weather --- because we all prayed for it!
- Everyone's joy at seeing the two kids who originally couldn't come due to a medical emergency
- Our Teacher Mommy Production Lead calling out instructions to no one in particular ... and random mommies and daddies doing them
- Homeschool Alumnus Kuya (big brother, also just mildly forced) stepping up to lead the choir
- Daddy Host popping his head from behind the black curtain to prompt the audience to clap their hands for the Admin Team's presentation
- Mommies ghost singing along with the choir to help their voices carry through the open air venue
- Mics "jumping" up (where the actors are) and down (where the orchestra and choir are) the stage --- at just the right times
- Mommies and daddies (not necessarily the corresponding parents) lifting orchestra and choir kids onto the stage for the final dance number
- Mommies in front of the stage, shamelessly dancing in full view of everyone to guide the Hiphop crew
- Other kids and a number of brave mommies joining in towards the end, just like a mob dance
- Everyone's heartfelt singing of our birthday song to Jesus
- One of our kid actors holding up the heavy cake for the entire duration of the slow and long birthday song, clearly feeling the weight by the second, but still managing a bright smile
- Everyone hugging and congratulating each other after the show
- Kids trooping out arm-in-arm to enjoy the rides together
- Parents giving in to their inner child and screaming their stresses away on the rides
Looking back to the events of the past few days, I realized, when Club Teachers go "on strike", things have the potential to get exponentially better --- because, then, stage moms and dads unite. And we all know anything done out of love almost always turns out perfect.
Thank you to
Mommy Events Head and her amazing team’s blood, sweat and tears for an
EKstraordinarily EKciting EK Christmas. Sa uulitin!
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