All Over and Where Do We Go?

So here we are on the other side of The Music Man! The musical performances wrapped Sunday before last, to a sold out crowd to the complete joy of all involved. For our little family being a part of the musical in varying capacities has been incredible fun and an invaluable education for all of us, especially in commitment.

Outside of rehearsals we spent our time working on backdrops and hanging out with a backstage crew who embraced my kiddo's and involved them wherever they could. Obviously these guys are very smart people as they could clearly see what I was doing taking so much time away from our lesson books. Not once in the three weeks that I was there was I questioned over why my children were not at school. Apart from a hands on education these guys realized that at our boys age is the right time to sow seeds for the future. If not for involvement in the theater world, I'm hoping that our boys will definitely see themselves as citizens who embrace actively and support their community from a young age.

Everyday that I rocked up with my boys in tow we were welcomed. Every time we left these guys encouraged us to be back. Towards the end when everything was at its busiest one special friend had prepared a surprise for Kookaburra and Kangaroo. Pre-cut timber off cuts were laid out for them to sand and when he was able they were shown how to drill these pieces together to make their own wooden trucks. My boys were so proud. Their little chests were swollen with happiness over their accomplishments. We took an enormous amount of off cuts home too and now they've become a valuable addition to my boys playtime.

Little boys need great male role models to look up too. They need their fathers to be positive examples of what it is to be a man. Little boys need their Uncles and Grandfathers and other men to show them the way - how to fix the lawn mower and work on the car. Men to model themselves on as they grow older. The problem our family faces is that our family unit is so small and our extended family lives too far away so this perfect scenario doesn't fit for us. What I'm discovering is that being involved in positive community activities with a peer age range outside our childrens' own age is a great and, we feel, the right way to help grow our little men.

But as for fall out from the musical and long days at the theater helping, well the consequences were small. We needed daytime naps to help make up for the extraordinarily late nights. And after the fact for me, trying to ground myself back at home has been a trial. Lets just say the cranky pants have been out a little too often but thankfully that too has passed.

Hmm... better climb down off my soap box and share some pic's from The Music Man :)

My little lad and I.

With his gigantic tuba!

An especially proud moment for me was seeing my boy thanked and commended for his outstanding conduct and contribution to the musical backstage in front of the cast and crew. He was so proud that night. Eleven pm he's walked in the door to his father, more pleased than I could possibly convey bursting to share this great moment in his little life.

'That's my brother'. Kangaroo loved opening night so much that he begged to go again to the matinee on the Sunday and I was only just able to get them tickets too as the theater had very nearly sold out on the Saturday.

My gorgeous and ever supportive, understanding husband. Without the many meals he cooked and logistics in Kangaroo handling I would not have been able to be so much a part of this amazing experience.

But here we are. The Music Man has finished and we're no longer needed on stage or back so where do we go from here? What new project shall we leap to now? I'll tell you.

This Friday night we have our first of hopefully many meetings with the Astronomy club. Next term we'll begin volunteering at the wildlife sanctuary I mentioned at the beginning of the year. Next term we begin with APEX - a long hoped for volunteering and community involvement opportunity . A family friendly group who we met through the theater. Violin lessons will also begin for our boys.

But the biggest, not yet confirmed, but hopefully, cannot see why it might not go ahead , opportunity to blow our way, will be the chance to perhaps assist an Arts teacher - visual, dance and drama - during her weekly grade 4/5 classes. So you see, Kookaburra will get to hang and participate with kids his own class age in an arts class at no cost to us.

Fingers crossed :D

So many passionate people who love their fields of knowledge to learn from. Next term is going to be busy, but 'funtastic'.