When Our Child Performs on Stage For the First Time

"...Thank You for the teachers who taught us, and for the parents and relatives who guide and love us.."

This is not the first time that my eldest performed on stage.  At age four, this is her second time to stand in front of a bunch people, ALONE.  Her first solo performance happened two weeks ago where she joined a poem reciting contest in their school. She performed pretty well as compared to how I would have performed when I was at her age. You see, I was very shy as a child and still am as an adult.

Dress rehearsal at home for Cloud Watching

Going back to my child, I was informed by her teacher that she was assigned for the opening prayer of their reading recital, and that they will be having it in a week's time.  Being the stage mom that I am, I cracked my brain and heart that night to come up with a prayer coming from a point view and heart of a child.

This is her prayer:

Let us bow our heads and feel the presence of the Lord.
In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We praise and glorify Your Name , Lord God.
Thank You for gathering us here today to showcase our reading skills.
Thank You for the teachers who taught us, and for the parents and relatives who love and guide us.
Please bless us with wisdom in all that we will do, and guide us with the words that we will read through.
Thank You Lord. We love You!

We practiced and I was confident that she has memorized her prayer by heart.

Yesterday morning, their reading recital schedule, my tummy started to be restless again like worm bathed with soap. I was very nervous as if I am the one who is going to lead the prayer. When her name was called, I stood up , together with all of the parents and students. And while everyone is listening intently to  her prayer, I am having my personal prayer to God.

I looked at her when she paused --  a long pause -- and wanted to go up on stage and hug her because her fingers were fidgeting uncontrollably around the microphone.  It was one of the longest two seconds of my life as mom. I thought she would cry as I was about to cry myself. With my palms cold, stomach churning, droplets of sweat forming and a heart pounding so hard, I knew I was having a stage fright attack right there with the audience! But when her eyes caught mine, all I did was give her a nervous but encouraging smile. Then she took a deep breath and continued with her prayer -- slowly but surely.

Cassey's opening prayer

As she finished her prayer and my heart beat stabilizes, I realized two things: First, is that I should always believe in my child. Believe in her abilities and give her time to overcome a certain situation. After all, God would not give her anything she could not handle. Second, is that I should prepare her to face life's challenges on her own. 

As mothers, we tend to be over protective, over reacting Super Woman!  But let us face it: Mom will not always be there to save the day. That is why we should let them solve their own simple problems as if we are not around. We started doing this when we taught them how to stand up and walk without help. Maybe now we can let them dress up by themselves and get food from the fridge.

I know this is easier said than done, but to all young mothers -- I mean mothers whose oldest child is five years old and below -- like me, the next time that our kids would perform: chill a little, hold that camera and be ready to capture the moment. Relax. Trust them...  they can .