Mom's and Dad's Let Off Steam

We'll be on the road in about 45 minutes after two whirlwinds days of driving nearly 10 hours, a day of watching the final show choir competition of the year. Now, we're up and will do the drive in reverse. DD2's group won Gran Champion, their only one this year after multiple, over a decade, of winning just about every competition they were in. They have a new director this year, less experience and I think their show just didn't have as much wow factor as other years. What it might not have had in wow factor, it sure had though with the vocals on these kids. All the kids at every school work their fannies off, starting in September and going right into spring.

Still, the effort takes a physical and mental toll on parents as well. The 4:00 a.m drop offs and then the 2:00 a.m. pick ups. If you chaperone, as I do about 40% of the events, you have the hauling of dresses and suits, and organizing behind the scenes. If you chaperone the  overnights, those brave souls, you get little sleep as yo u monitor the rooms and make sure no shenanigans are happening. If you have  a girl, there's the hair rolling the night before and last minute runs for more hair pins, various makeup products, and anything else to be prepared. There was a mini crisis yesterday morning when one of the girls hair hadn't dried the night before in the curlers and came out flat and damp. Mom's to the rescue with multiple curling irons and diffuser blow dryers at he same time.

Yes, we parents needed to blow off some steam. We first spent a couple hours post competition in someones room having happy hour. We met parents I didn;t know, and a few alumni parents that now empty nesters came for the weekend as well. We headed to a place that had tastings of moon shine, whilc was darn tasty. (We bringing three mason jars home of it!) Fortunately, they served food as well, so after some wraps, burgers, and fries, we headed to another watering hole for another drink and some live music. We capped off the night with a final toast in the happy hour room, before we all crashed about 12:30. DH isn't much of drinker so was a driver, which worked well so he is upright and feeling well. I paced myself well and feel OK. I think there might be a few not quite doing so well.

We're proud of our kids. We've invested a lot of time and money into them though, so only right we get a little fun as well. I'm good for a while though.  Yet, there's still next year.