Let it Go: Reggae Kids Wanna See You Be Brave -- Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me?

The children have been preparing nonstop for the annual Cardinal Winter Program, which means that we've been singing/practicing/hearing/humming/trying desperately to drown out the same nine songs, over and over, for weeks. We let them watch the videos on YouTube, which was a hilarious and enlightening window into what they will be like as teenagers: Cordelia stared intensely into the Katy Perry and Sara Bareilles videos, singing throatily along, eyes in a far-off world of guts and glory and fearlessness and freedom. Her eyes actually get glassy. It's something else. Emma, meanwhile, also has every single word of these songs memorized, and it's about the funniest thing you can imagine to hear her saying, "I WANT TO SING ROAR!" And then shouting--because of all of us, it's just possible the E is the one who can't carry a tune in a bucket--"I GOT THE EYE OF A TIGER! A FIGHTER! I'm DANCING through the FIRE! I am the CHAMpion! You're gonna hear ME ROAR!" Or saying to me several times daily, "TELL ME HOW BIG YOUR BRAVE IS!"

We'll download our pictures tomorrow, because we are beat like a red-headed stepchild tonight. Mostly because midafternoon, Cordelia--who had a minor cold this week--came downstairs from nap screaming that her ear was about to explode. Two hours before the performance. Off to the Minute Clinic, where they described her infections as "raging out of control" and onto the pink medicine. When I asked if she wanted to stay home she sobbed, "NO! I CAN'T! Mrs. Benzi NEEDS ME!" And she did. She needed sweet, redheaded, incredibly pale little Cordelia Mary to belt out Jamaican reggae songs about diversity, unity, and pride. Preferably all three at once, just to be safe. "Brown Girl in the Rain" would not have been the same without her lilting Irish voice. 

Amazingly, CML was pissy and cranky and mouthy all the way up to the point where the curtains opened, and then:

Is the wiggle awesome, or what? Day-oh. Day, you say day-oh. She likes sugar, and I like rum. 

Right after she finished, she was right back to her sorry self. But I was distracted from her whining when Emma "I NEED TO DO IT MY OWN SELF" Last, during "Brave," insisted on climbing into the auditorium seat on her own. But because she's so small and light, the seat promptly folded back up, swallowing her whole, trapping her foot, and eating her shoe. 

Because we Lasts are nothing if not low-key and inconspicuous. 

Anyway, here's Cody's class. You'd never know from his sweet and joyful face that he spent all day figuring out just how far he could push his sweet mama before she got in the car, drove west, and didn't look back. You can be amazing, Cody, "you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug." 

Children, since I'm writing this blog as proof of my devotion that you can print out and take to your therapist's office one day, I'll just admit it: despite the happy faces here, it was a challenging day. On the scale of 1 to "I Was a Really Crappy Mother," I think I tipped the scales. I don't want to talk about it and I hope we can start tomorrow fresh. Not fresh as in "sassy and smartmouthed," as my mother used to describe me. But, my dear children, you put it best tonight when you sang your beneficent, malevolent, gorgeous little hearts out:

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you.

How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying, you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues.

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you.

Night all. More pictures tomorrow. 

ROAR!