I'm the Mother of "Those Kids"

Today Charlotte and James’ childcare centre had their end of year concert.  The parents all assemble in the playground and then each room performs a song and a small, simple routine the children can follow.  First up are the babies and toddlers. 

James looked a bit bemused by it all and was craning his head around, looking for me.  Then he spotted me. 

He instantly broke ranks and made a beeline for me...  

  

...while all the other well-behaved non-addicted children sat down nicely to perform their song.

As soon as the music started and he saw his buddies performing the familiar routine James decided he might like to check it out and shake his maraca a little.

He managed to sit down and do what he was told for at least five seconds.

Then he realised he wasn’t with Mama and had to be physically restrained...

  

...while all the other children sat nicely.  When he wasn't immediately released he began releasing a series of squeals and other assorted protestations that increased in pitch, volume and urgency until the carer wisely decided that it might be better to just let him go so people could actually hear their own children.  

This made James happy.  He decided it was much more fun to try and put the lens cap on my camera while I tried to take photos.

Throughout the other performances I sat next to my sister-in-law Jen and her daughter Chloe, who is only a month older than James.  Chloe behaved like a perfect angel and happily sat in her mother’s lap throughout most of the concert.

You know that one kid who insists on running around being the centre of attention, squealing and generally just indulging their own whims while everyone else tries to ignore them?  Yeah I remember having a small daughter like Chloe and thinking, “Who is that kid?  Where is his mother and why is she doing nothing to control his outrageous behaviour?”

Well the karmic balance has been adjusted and I have a brand new understanding of that woman thanks to James who continued to cycle between sitting with me momentarily…

…standing up and shouting at the audience…

…flashing the audience…

…parading up and down in front of the other children who were trying to perform…

…cheekily defying the attempts of carers to contain him…

…emitting high pitched squeals of delight at the top of his lungs…

…and applauding his own efforts.

I was thoroughly mortified and made several attempts to contain him.  Unfortunately, much like the poor carer, I quickly realised the futility of attempts at containment because James would wail inconsolably until released.  

Meanwhile, Charlotte had her own performance issues.  Because she’s tall (I assume) she was placed in the back row during her performance.

Her recitation was an Australianised version of “The 12 Days of Christmas”.  Despite being thrown in the back her enthusiasm remained undampened and every single time they got to “three red galahs” she would thrust her number three red galah sign as high as it would go.

Fortunately for her there was a more important component.  Graduation from preschool.  She was super cute in her graduation robe.  The missing front tooth and hand holding added to the cuteness factor.

Her decorum lasted all the way through the presentation of her certificate…

...long enough for a photo of her with said certificate…

…then she rounded up "that naughty little guy"…

…and crash tackled him.

At this point I gave up and let them go for it.