My oldest son participated in an Air Band contest last week. He and his 5-member band performed the song, “JUMP.” Mine was the lead singer.
Earlier in the week we had purchased the materials to make his microphone and create his costume. I could tell other parents had spent several hours on making drums, painting the keyboard, buying a wig and creating a cardboard guitar.
As I watched the “warm-up” bands, I realized how important this performance was in the life of a 7th grader.
They announced Van Halen as the five boys took the stage. I felt tears in my eyes watching mine perfectly lip sync the words, “Might as well JUMP”…and all of the boys would jump up in the air and twist around as the crowd screamed and clapped (the groupies).
My tears were out of pride. They were out of memories of winning a lip sync contest (as Dolly Parton — complete with big ones) when I was in college, and because these kind of events remind me of how cool it is to raise teenagers. This is certainly the frosting of the parenting cake.