My Sons’ Christmas Program

For several weeks, my sons were telling us about their school Christmas program that was coming up. They would each sing with their respective class and one of them was going to play the cow bell with several other of his class mates. We promised that we would be there and they happily went their merry way.

The day of the program came and my boys were told me they had to be there as such and such a time. I informed them that I had to go out of town for the day and would try and get back in time. They weren't happy about that, but they excepted that I had to go but were still worried that I wouldn’t make it back in time.

On my way home, my wife texted me that they were on their way to the school for the program. She said the my boys were worried that I would not be there in time to see them perform. I checked my watch and realized that I would be cutting it close. It was dark and rainy so I couldn't go any faster because of the driving conditions.

I got another text message that they were at the school and going into the auditorium. Fortunately I made it in time despite the weather. But, as it turned out, it seemed that most of the people in town had showed up also. I found a parking space and rushed in and quickly found my wife and my two youngest daughters and took a seat. My girls were surprised to see me. They didn't think that I would make it in time.

The principal spoke for a few minutes, thanking everyone for being there and supporting the kids. The curtains opened and they started right in with their singing.

After the first two sets, it became painfully obvious that the kids would be performing all the same songs that they had performed the year before, but probably in a different order. I would have thought that they would have chosen different songs. There were many good songs were not sung that could have been. It would have been a better program instead of just a remake of last year.

Don't get me wrong, they kids performed well and the audience enjoyed the evening, but it could have been better with fresh songs.

After the event was over, it seemed like everyone was rushing to exit the building and head to their vehicles, but I and other parents had to go locate their kids before they got lost in the rush. It was not an easy task. People were going in all directions. I finally found my youngest son but could not locate my other one. We looked the place over from one side to another. There were several other parents that were having trouble locating their children and were up on the stage speaking their child's name into the microphone, blasting it all over the whole building.

My youngest son got on the mike and called for his older brother. By that time I was getting very worried that I couldn't find him. With in two minutes, here he came running up the aisle to the stage. It turned out that he was in the lobby with other kids waiting for us to find him. I was so relieved when I saw him. I know, I worry too much, but I can't help it. Anyway, we rushed out to meet my wife who was waiting with our two girls.

My sons told me that when they were up on the stage singing with their class, they both were scanning the crowd looking for me, worried that I wouldn't have made it. They were happy that I did.

After a brief reunion outside the auditorium, my wife took the girls and I took the boys and we made our way to our separate vehicles to head home.

The parking lot was a mess. Everyone trying to get home as fast as possible, it made for stressful situation. I got the boys fastened in started the van and waited and waited for someone nice enough to come along and let me in the line.

As luck would have it, despite being parked in separate parking lots and getting to our vehicles at different times, I pulled out onto the road and headed home, right behind my wife.

Overall, it was a good day. I got to visit with family out of town and made it back in time to see my two sons perform on stage.

The point of this story? There really isn't one except that I didn't know what else to write about.

Next week, my daughter in first grade has her Christmas program. We will attend that one as well. Hopefully they don’t sing the same songs as they did at my sons’ program.