Fair in the Fall

Our house has gone from pretty okay/straight/livable to a disaster zone in which you have to be careful of what you might step on. It's harder for me to fit in everyday pickup during the school year. Thus, I have less time to update my blog because I'm always trying to do another load of laundry, straighten up things that young children have brought into other rooms and abandoned (spoons in the bathroom, shoes in the kitchen, etc.).

Last year, Lou Lou's artwork was entered into the county fair art contest by her art teacher. She won for her grade level, which was wonderful. She had drawn and painted a picture of a clown. This year when the buzz of the fair began, Bear expressed interest in winning a ribbon since his sister had one. We got a paper in his homework folder about entering the fair talent competition. He said he wanted to so we began to get ready for the audition. He was going to sing "Jesus Loves Me" in 3/4 time with me accompanying him. He sang this at church and did a remarkable job. He was so comfortable doing this.

When time for the audition came, he stood up in front of 30-40 other auditioning children and their parents. This was a new place to sing, not near as familiar as the front of our church. He sang it fine, but not with the confidence that he had at church. Later the next week, the school secretary announced the students who would represent our school at the fair. Bear's name was not announced. I didn't like the way they did this, because all the children who didn't make it got the not-so-great news at the beginning of a school day, without the supportive words and hugs of their parents. I would prefer that they call the parents and let them tell their children. Anyway, Bear didn't mention it to me, so I didn't mention it to him.

Earlier this week, Lou Lou began asking me (in the car in front of Bear) when Bear was going to the fair to sing. Oops! I should have brought it up with him in private, and I'll do that next time. When I said that the music teacher had chosen some other students this time, he seemed sad but didn't cry. This was on the way to school. When we got to school, they announced over the intercom during the morning announcements that Lou Lou's artwork had once again been chosen to represent at our school at the fair. They also said one of Bear's friend's names as well as that friend's sister. Earlier this week, they had announced Lou Lou and this same friend as winners of the 1st grade fair coloring contest. All this information in one week is a lot for a six-year old. I called his wonderful teacher just to check on him, and she said he was going to be the very first Star of the Week. She has twins of her own so she understands the dynamics that go along with twins. She made such a big deal about him being the Star of the Week, and she told me she wanted him to feel that everybody had a place to shine.

I worked very hard, maybe too hard, when the twins were younger to make everything fair for them. They completely understand fair but have a hard time understanding when things aren't fair. I"m so excited for Lou Lou because art stuff comes so natural to her. I feel bad for Bear, but I guess maybe it's good for him to experience firsthand that everything's not fair.

This morning, during the announcements, my students were wide open, so I didn't hear what the announcements were about. However, I did hear something about "art" and they once again called Lou Lou's name. Way to go, Lou Lou! Hang in there, Bear!