Ok both my boys went through that whole "mandatory" school sing stuff, once they were outside and they both ended up with terrible sunburns, didnt make one bit of differance with their grades. Both my sons felt they only said it was mandatory so kids would come. The sunburn one they held in the middle of the school day. If its mandatory, make it during school hours. How many parents work nights and have sitters they leave their children with so they can support their family? Are they supposed to take off work for a mandatory sing? That is crap. I would totally go to the show that you guys have been planning for so very long, that will be a much bigger better memory for her them some half way organized school sing.

Hmmpff. Sorry, that type of stuff annoys me.

I agree with the post above Susie, go to Lion King -- it will be spectacular. I saw Phantom of the Opera as a kid and it still stands out as one of the most fantastic few hours of my childhood. Granted, I was older than your girl, at least 12 or 13, but the spectical of it all was magnificent.

And Hooray for LETA! I bet there were many who silently thought "You go lil' frog!" whilst sipping morning coffee. I start my work day with a read of her blog. If you haven't yet discovered Ian Williams, xtcian.com, you may enjoy. Talented writer for TV & movies, wife a NY producer, battles depression, new Daddy,good stuff.

Got here via Nilbo -- enjoying your blog, thank you for finding the time to write and share.

I would totally go to the musical and just write a note to the teach saying you had a previous family commitment. Surely LG can be graded on another performance.

Yay for LETA!

Gotta go with the other ladies here and say, HELL YEAH, go to the Lion King. You've planned it that long, and can they really, really hurt LG's grade by missing this performance?
And if they get pissy about it, you can always sick your Internet Legions on 'em. As a group, we're pretty good at kneecap bustin' and the like.

Oooo... Lion King vs. Chorus Thing. Hmm. That's a toughy. Maybe LG can make the call? Wait, how old is she? Hmm. I think I'd skip the chorus thing and go see Lion King.

Hooray for Leta walking! That's cool.

I took a bunch of pictures of our stuff, but haven't gotten my arse in gear to post any of it. I'd love to participate in Stuff Picture Day! Maybe this week will be the week!

Ha! That's a great story from Jif! It says something about who he is -- a good something. :)


Yeah... the more I think about it, the more I think "Lion King". I saw The Nutcracker when I was a little kid and that was really cool. Make a memory -- take her to see Lion King. :)

My sons skipped so many of those extracurricular activities that one teacher was surprised when the boy did show up. The middle son did not even march at Commencement, I had to go pick up the piece of paper at the office the next day from the secretary.
They then went on to college, oldest on full academic scholarship, the others have partial academic goodies.
Tickets to The Lion King for grown-ups should be a priority.
ps Neither DOF nor I went to our proms due to lack of interest.

I am dying to see The Lion King, personally.

I'm not usually one to skip "school", but this is ridiculous. I agree with Jess, it should be during school hours if it's that mandatory.

Maybe she could conveniently get sick that day (but not too sick to see TLK...maybe laryngitis?).

I don't see the comment I just published. It may show up and make me look redundant. But go to the show. Kneecaps beware. (see Bucky's comment.)

I'm voting Lion King too!

Regarding manners and tact- We constantly get wrong number calls from an unknown young woman.
I'd dearly love to hear her say "Hi, is so-and-so there" and feel comfortable enough to answer "Sorry, he's dead!"
Actually, nice person that I am, I've learned the caller's first name and sometimes we chat for a second.

I don't know what the heck is wrong with all you mothers, but I say it's more important to be at the school sing song event. Your kid needs to learn to sacrifice 'I want' events for those that are expected. It's a good learning experience and a valuable lesson.

Oh who am I kidding...I so would ditch the sing song brigade for the Lion King. You had your tickets before the event and I'm sorry, an F for not attending an after hours school event??? BAH!!!

Totally agree with everyone else...in the long run the Lion King is going to be a better experience than a mandatory school event.

And speaking of Leta...I'm loving the spaghetti sauce poop in the hair picture today!

Super Jif's so brave. I couldn't sell my big ass to cannibals.

That's a hard one. I saw the Lion King 4 times(yep I'm broke now)and you really really don't wan't to miss it. Trust me! Is there any way you could talk to any other parents at her school to see exactly what the consequences are for LG if she misses the concert. Technically, you will be at a place where there's singing, ask if she sings along there, does that count? Just kidding, but good luck with your decision.

1. See what LG thinks. She should have a say, no matter what the ultimate decision is.

2. If you decide to do the Lion King, talk to her teacher and see if LG could do a report on it. Maybe the report could replace the performance grade.

3. Screw everything I say and do whatever YOU think is best!

:-)

My MIL has no tact. There just isn't a social filter in her brain. It's been difficult to learn that she doesn't say and do things maliciously. She just DOES them. The other daughters-in-law still don't get it.

Saw the Leta walking post. Awesome! My cousin didn't walk until she was 2, and she ended up being the star on her high school basketball team. And a cheerleader. Oh, and a pageant winner. (Yeah, try being HER cousin!!)

That was such a totally cool Jif reaction!

In other news, not that anyone cares...Carrie won, Carrie won, Carrie won.

I hate doling out advice, but you DID ask...

I pretty much agree with most everyone else. I think (really expensive) theatre tickets outweigh the school thing. (I also agree they should make 'mandatory' performances during school hours.)

I think I'd visit with the teacher about it. Let her/him know what's going on, how long ago you committed to the Lion King thing. Misfit's idea of doing the report on the Lion King was pretty cool.

jessicarabbit, thanks, I agree, not everyone can get to those "after hours" things

kel, welcome! Thanks for stopping in and letting me know you were here :)

kranki, I'm going to send that note in tomorrow, and hope the teacher (who is also a mom) has some mercy.

bucky, it's good to know I have a posse if I need one. That's POSSE.

CK, thanks, love. Get your STUFF together.

mrsDoF, skipping anything will be new to us, but I think that's what we're going to do.

andrea, the lack of sugar has gone to your brain. You, of all people, encouraging us to fib!

squirl, if the teacher gives me any trouble, I'll forward that double-bird picture of you to her!

sierrabella, you're very kind. Repeated wrong numbers . . . there's no excuse for that.

greenie, you scared me there for a minute!

weetzie, LG does love chorus and she loves to perform, but she votes Lion King.

plum, that is so not true. Cannibals have already been contacting me here, just since you posted that!

losc, I'm sure that singing along could be arranged.

misfit, thank you, excellent advice.

nic, Jif is the coolest. Good for Carrie! I didn't see it.

ladybug, that's what I'm going to do. I hope she's a reasonable person. No reason (yet) to think she's not.

The Lion King is REALLY good (but you knew that already, hence spending the big bucks for the tickets).

If it's "manditory" it should probably be avoided at all costs: When I was in High School, I missed seeing the Beastie Boys open for Madonna, because I had a "manditory" band concert.

Lion King all the way. LK is not something that will happen again in the near future or ever. You bought the tickets IN. THE. FALL.

If the school gives LG an F for having a prior family commitment, thats just wrong. And, LG will learn that when you make a commitment, ie LK, you keep it.

Have fun at LK.

what a life, my blog would be too frightening for even the bravest visitors if I didn't clean first!

closet metro, so "mandatory" means "don't do it." Got it.

lawbrat, I've written a letter to the teacher today. We'll see . . .

I vote for Lion King...and underline everything that jessicarabbit said.

Remember, private school or public school, you pay the teacher's salary...now with that in mind, you have no reason to bend to her/his arbitrary edicts.

Lion King!!!

I'm with the boob lady up there, FWIW.