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December 04, 2004
Conflicted feelings for this Band Mom
In a few hours we'll be down in San Diego at the So. Cal championships. Siobhan's band is one of ten competing in the 3A division. They have worked sooo hard to get to this point. They came in second last year, losing first place by less than one whole point and it looks like, again, they'll be going head to head with the high school that came in first last year. I'm really looking forward to the show.
And I know I'm going to cry, too. Because this ends a long chapter in my life. My eldest daughter, Jenn, turns 26 in January and she was the first of the girls to start learning a musical instrument -- the flute in the third grade. Then Erin started alto sax, Heather clarinet and Siobhan flute. All the girls had piano lessons (though it was Jenn that stuck with them the longest). Jenn also plays piccolo and guitar. Siobhan started playing tenor sax in high school and was section leader before becoming Drum Major this year. Heather was Drum Major of her Jr High band and her high school band.
This is the last competition of twelve years of high school band shows for all my girls. When I was a full-time mom I also was very active in Band Boosters ... traveling on the buses to help set up equipment. Writing press releases and fund raising. Running the snackbar at football games. Organizing and booking out-of-state tours (I chaperoned the year we went to Disney World).
And it's over today. This afternoon when Siobhan directs her band off the field part of my life is over. Band has been wonderful for the girls. They've learned to both excell as individuals and as leaders while realizing the wonders and rewards of team work and cooperation.
Band has been a life for them, and for me. There have been sad times, too. Jenn was a junior when a beloved member of her band finally succumbed to Hodgkins disease. About a year after that, one young man lost his older brother to a random act of violence. And there have been other deaths due to car accidents. In each, the term "Band family" saw its true expression in the face of tragedy. We all pulled together for these families, helping them as we all mourned together.
I love these kids, their enthusiasm and their quirkiness. It has tempted me, from time to time, to get a teaching certification and teach high school. Not that I think kids will actually listen to any wisdom I might try to pass their way. I'm an old fart to them. They don't realize their mantra "You don't understand! Things today are different than in your day" is something I said, and my parents said, and their parents said, back back ad nauseum. Teaching teens is really delayed gratification because whatever seeds you place in them will not sprout until long after they've left high school.
The last show of my youngest child. What will I do next fall?
Hmmmm.... the twins will be 3 ... how soon can I start them on piano lessons???
Posted by Darleen at December 4, 2004 09:44 AM