Stand-up success!

Ian has BIG plans.  B. I. G.  The ambition is pouring out of him and he has many, many dreams.  Broadway, movies, stand-up comedy, restaurant owner/operator of multiple different themes and all kinds of food, and tons of television series ideas, complete with several episodes sketched out with characters and plots. And oh yeah, he wants to get his pilot's license.   I absolutely love the enthusiasm he has and want to support his dreams as best as we can.

Ian has been working on his stand-up routine and was recently given the opportunity to perform it at this restaurant/bar in Alexandria.  It was set-up by his friend's father who knows the owner of this restaurant.  They have an open mic night on Wednesdays and Ian got the chance to perform. Ian had a 5 minute set and got up on the stage like a pro and killed it.  Everyone in the bar area stopped what they were doing (you know, drinking and talking) and gave Ian their full attention.   After it was over, so many people came over to him and complimented him for his poise, how funny he was, and that it was too short!

The level of confidence Ian has coupled with no sense of fear is admirable.  How many people can say at age 14 they would've had the wherewithal to do something like this?   After his performance, Ian said he is now comfortable inviting people he knows to watch future stand-up gigs.  And believe me, there will be more.  Ian is already researching where he can pop up on stage again at an open mic night and is working on more jokes.

I honestly feel like the minute Ian has all the freedom he needs and isn't hindered by 8 hours in school every day or having to get to bed at a reasonable hour, it will be fascinating to see what happens next.  This is a kid who is living his best life and is jumping at the chance to do new things and get going on all his plans.

The bane of my existence

If there is one area that I should feel in complete control over, it's my weight.  My weight fluctuates more than a yo-yo goes up and down and up again.  I am currently experiencing an upward swing in numbers.  It's not fun and I'm a mix of disgusted, disappointed in myself and very frustrated.

I hate how difficult it is to lose and then maintain a healthy weight.  I love how I feel with I can wear the smaller sizes in my closet (heck, I could open a store with the range of clothing sizes I have represented).  And I love how I don't dread getting on the scale and seeing a smaller number than the day or week before.  But for some reason, it is extremely challenging for me to stick with it and to keep enjoying the positive benefits of weighing less.

I am back to doing weight watchers and tracking what I eat.  I am determined to make it this time and not give up.  I don't expect huge results overnight, but I do need to be more diligent about what I eat beyond the first few months.  I seem to do great at first, take a breath so to speak, and the next thing you know, I am back to where I was.   No more!  This time will be different.  I want to change for the better and stick with it.

I am such a strong, persistent person in all other areas, why can't I be the same way with my weight?   Jeff says he doesn't care how much I weigh as long as I can fit thru doors.  While that's a really sweet sentiment and gosh, I love him for this way of thinking, I want more for myself than that.  I want to be proud of being able to look this stupid struggle I've had my whole life square in the face and know that I was stronger than it.

Taking it up a notch, or two or three

The amount of activities Ian is involved in this Fall has skyrocketed to proportions we have never experienced before.  Ian has decided that he very much wants to try to make a go of acting professionally. While he is a very talented actor, he is just as untalented with dancing and singing.  Ian took a few voice lessons last year and has vastly improved his singing, but his ability to handle any kind of dance number in a show is less than stellar. 

Ian was up for taking a musical theatre class this year. Every 12 weeks, the teacher picks a number from a Broadway musical and the kids learn the dance and corresponding song.  The style of dance will change with each new session.  It's a really cool class and I love how they work on one singular song for the entire 12 weeks.  Ian is currently working on "It's too darn hot" from Kiss Me Kate.  After the first and second weeks, Ian gets in the car when I pick him up and tells me how he is the worst dancer in the whole class.   Yes, I have to agree he must be.  He hasn't had any dance instruction before and I've seen what he was capable of in other shows he's done.  It's pretty entertaining, and not in a good way.  I told Ian that I am sure all of these kids have taken other dance classes before.  I told Ian he needs to work at this more than he is, if he is truly serious about wanting to make it.  Heck, at this point, he needs to take some dance classes just to be able to audition and have a chance to even get a role in the high school musical.  There are a lot of very talented kids in Ian's school.

Ian finally agrees that taking more dance classes is a necessity.  We were able to register him for a Boys Ballet Class (all kids are 12+ in age) and a Broadway Tap 1 Class.  With the addition of the Musical Theatre Class, Ian is taking 4.5 hours of dance a week.  I adore this dance studio we found.  It's close to the house and everything Ian is taken is filled with students who are there to improve their theatre skills.  In a nice surprise, Ian knows almost everyone in each of his dance classes.  Ian went from having no dance shoes to now owning a pair of Jazz, Tap and Ballet shoes.  :)

Additionally, Ian is performing in two different plays this Fall.  A dramatic play with his high school and a musical with the acting program he does thru George Mason University, AFYP.

Here is Ian's current schedule:

Monday:
rehearsal at school from 3 to 6pm
tap class from 7:30 to 8:30pm

Tuesday:
rehearsal at school from 3 to 6 pm
boys ballet from 7:30 to 9pm

Wednesday:
rehearsal at school from 3 to 6pm

Thursday:
every other week Ian stays at school for Improv

Friday:
rehearsal at school from 3 to 6pm

Saturday:
musical theatre from 8:30 to 10:30am
AFYP (acting for young people) from 1:30 to 5pm

Sunday:
religious school from 9 to 12pm

It is weird that the most I see Ian each week is in the car as I pick him up from one place or drive him to another.  I think I could easily moonlight as an UBER driver at this rate.  I am pretty much already acting like one, minus the paycheck.

It is so wonderful as a parent to see your child find something they are passionate about and want to work as hard as they can to excel. I absolutely love that Ian is a full-fledged theatre kid.  He has found his people and they are such a great group of kids.  They spend many hours together each week and it's comforting to know that Ian is with kids who are similarly minded and are a good influence on each other.

The icing on the cake is going to the theatre and knowing I have a built-in partner-in-crime to join me in seeing anything on the stage.

Flu Shot Extravaganza 2019

Back to school means it is time to do our annual, VERY FUN tradition of getting a flu shot.  If there is one thing I've done right as a parent, this is it.  My friend and I have turned getting our flu shot into an event that is celebrated and very much look forward to.

For several years now we have ditched the pediatrician's flu shot clinic and found ourselves at Target.  It's actually an amazing situation -- not only do we have the flexibility of going whenever we can find a mutually convenient time, but we also get $5 gift cards to spend at Target for each of us.   And who doesn't love free money to spend at Target?!?

Sam is doing a stellar job of getting the shot and not causing a scene.  This is refreshing and we almost can retire the game that goes on, "how long will it take the nurse to administer the vaccine?"

We are in a good groove and this is our third year going to Olive Garden after for dinner and then Baskin Robbins for ice cream.  Why mess with success?   It's easy, everything is located within the same shopping center area, and the kids enjoy the food at Olive Garden more than they reasonably should.  :)

Gosh, I love these kids!!

Sleepaway camp for the win!

The kids were at camp from July 23rd till August 18th.  My weeks without the kids in the house were very restful.  Without taking on any big projects that consume all of my time, I enjoyed the lazy days of summer.  It was delightful and I got very complacent in the art of doing nothing.

I had some time to reflect on what it means to me that we are able to give our kids this experience.  We've somehow made it a possibility to send them for 4 Summers, with more in the works for years to come.

We've seen amazing transformations in Samantha.  She has been able to be to grow emotionally and socially.  She adapts to living life in a bunk with 11 other girls and develops bonds with girls that are strengthened each year.  Her self esteem and self-confidence are on the rise.  Samantha knows she can tackle new situations and take care of herself.   Samantha won't be afraid to take chances in the future and isn't afraid to leave our side to explore a new world.  She is a brilliant thinker and comes up with creative out-of-the-box solutions to whatever dilemma she is facing.

Ian has a group of kids that he gets closer to with each passing Summer.  They pick up like no time has been lost. And it is wonderful to know these friendships will last a lifetime, no matter where life takes them.  This is a bond that transcends time and geography.  Ian has asked if he can go for the full Summer in 2020.  This is something Jeff and I are hoping to make happen for him.

One of the best things about camp is the no technology rule.  Anything that can connect to the internet and/or phone is prohibited.  And you know what?  The kids don't even miss it.  They get to be kids and enjoy running around, playing games, doing arts & crafts, singing songs, dancing, and telling stories.

It's a Jewish sleepaway camp and therefore, they are surrounded by kids who are just like them.  We do not live in a very big Jewish area, it's nice to know they are a part of this community.

I absolutely love how Samantha and Ian will randomly tell a story of something that happened months ago at camp.

A lot of sacrifices and compromises (with help also from financial aid) are needed to make sleepaway camp a reality.  It is not easy, but so worth it.  I know in a few years the kids will be too old to go, but the memories, experiences, boost in self-confidence, problem-solving, socialization, and being in a Jewish environment will last a lifetime.  That, in my opinion, is priceless.