She loved it so much that we had a little problem on the third rehearsal. When Daddy was late picking her up and got her there 10 minutes late, after the kids had starting singing.
She found herself stuck in an emotional loop: wanting desperately to go in and sing with Ms. Christy and her peers and the bigger kids BUT also embarrassed that she was late and coming in after they had started; maybe too much attention from all these people right on her, the shame of being late, the fear of disapproval for missing part of the practice and not knowing the song as well as the other kids. I have the idea that these were some of the things running through her head because she was yelling or saying or crying or whispering them on my lap in the hallway, behind a closed door near the choir room, downstairs in the back of the church, then finally in the car driving away. Because she could never quite pull it together enough to stop crying and enter the room and go into her seat and participate. It was very troubling that night, and thanks to Nana and Mommy and more responsibility from Daddy, we got her to all the following practices on time or more than on time. Her angry tirade as we drove away was truly frightening as she verbally lashed out at almost everyone possibly involved or that she even knew in her shame and frustration. I think I may have to generate some milder forms of this situation to help her cope with these feelings before school begins this Fall, or even talk about the situation in calmer times to try and build some tools for her. And it did demonstrate how seriously she takes her interests and activities she loves.
And a father who was basically NEVER on time for choir in the last 10 years clearly gets the child he deserves. Character building for Daddy and Olivia. And very musically talented - she sang great, had all the words down after 3 rehearsals and had great behavior in the pew during the service.
I am grateful for this wonderful, emotional daughter I have.
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