Talent Show

Every year the music teacher hosts tryouts for a talent show. Part of me thinks she does this because she is very sweet and kind and invested in her work, and another part thinks that allowing uninhibited grade schoolers to show of their "talents" is just too entertaining to pass up. 

Cambel has zero interest in talent shows, but when Ada realized on tryout day that ALL HER FRIENDS were trying out, she came home determined to discover a talent before the next day when her ever-patient teacher would host an extra audition. Since imagining complex scenarios for your dolls is not a show-able talent, Ada decided to sing. What to sing became a real source of angst and ended in tears. After useless attempts to help her, I told her it was a real bummer, but she was going to have to figure it out on her own. I assumed she would give up, but the next morning she arose with fresh resolve and bounded off to school with a plan to sing one of the songs they learned in music class. I think I would have been too embarrassed to do that at her age, so I was impressed with her courage. She progressed to the next round, which meant she got to perform in front of the whole 1st grade. (When she was planning her tryout Cambel warned her that she would have to perform it for her whole grade, to which she responded: "What happens when I win? " Too bad there is not good way to showcase confidence as a talent).  I asked her if she was nervous and she said "Well, it probably won't be my favorite day ever, but this is what is called facing your fears" Oh. This girl. 

A lot of her friends performed actually impressive solos and gymnastic routines, but I was so proud of Ada for her courage and determination, and it didn't hurt that I find her to be so cute. She didn't "win" in the end, but she had fun and will probably always remember performing her song in her favorite dress in front of the whole first grade. 

 (blurriest picture ever--but she was so cute up there on the stage)

My girl after her talent show debut.