My son's crazy 10th birthday party (and piano competition)

[KathySRW]

I sent this email to my mom yesterday, and decided to make a CM post out of it as well.

Here's both the rundown of Andrew's birthday, last Saturday, and why I am so crabby today:
Please note my appalling lack of event-planning skills and my equal neglect of both birthday party attendees and piano recital participants.

I had to work, from  home, 8 am – 1 pm due to the emergency medical leave of my co worker. So I had my laptop set up to allow my home phone to ring if anyone called my department, and yes I did get several calls during that time.

At about 10 am, my husband took  our son to get a pair of pants that aren’t sweat-pants, to wear to his piano competition.

Our daughter had to miss her usual 9:30 am Saturday morning  fencing class to fit this all in.

4 of the kids invited to Andrew’s party  were all brothers from one family, our former next door neighbors and were only able to be dropped off by their parents at noon, even though the party’s official start time was 4 pm,  as they work weird hours on Saturday. So we agreed to that.

At 1 pm, Paul and Andrew had to leave for his piano competition, while I had to stay behind with the neighbor children. Otherwise they’d be alone  in the house. This competition clearly stated that the child’s parents could watch him play, but no children.

Appx 2:30 my husband and son return. My husband raved about how well our son played, although he had a hard time understanding the concept of “warming up” at the piano, and when prompted to “warm up” first, immediately began to play his rehearsed piece. He doesn’t understand “warm up,” he only understands “play” or “not play.” 

At 3:30, my husband shoveled our driveway while I shopped for last-minute party supplies, like pizza for dinner, and chips.

At 4:00 other children from the neighborhood arrived as well as my husband’s co workers’s son and a boy our son got along well with when we used to take him for autism day therapy.

At about 5:30 our phone rang just once. It appeared to be a hang up. But it prompted me to check our voice mail. There was a message! At 3:30 one of the judges from the piano competition had called. Andrew had received a “superior” rating, and was expected to play at their 7:00 pm recital for all participants who had received that same rating!

Tempting as it was to skip this part, it was too great an opportunity to let Andrew miss. He and his guests were surprised to hear his score, and after only a little weeping on my son’s part, he agreed to break the expected routine and come with me for 90 minutes , back to the church where the original event had been held, while his dad and teen aged sister remained behind with the other kids at the birthday party without the birthday boy.

At about 6:30 my son and I left, and drove to the church, where his teacher greeted him and instructed how to bow after his performance. Stand, two three; bow two three; stand one two three. Then,  done. He caught right on.

The program listed my Andrew’s name and the name of his piece he was going to play, as the 5^th child to play, out of about 50! Andrew said loudly, “ I think everybody won!”

Andrew walked calmly and confidently to the grand piano on the church stage, played his piece perfectly, bowed to the exact count of 3, as his teacher had just t aught him,and walked back to me, smiling.

After about 10  more children had played and I realized that after appx half an hour and we were barely a third of the way through the names listed in the program, while his birthday guests were still at our house, I did the rudest thing imaginable, and ducked out with him , between kids. I let him know that musicians don’t normally do this to each other and that ones own birthday party is just about the only justifiable excuse for it.

We arrived home about 90 minutes after we’d left. The kids had all enjoyed the chips and pop and were enjoying playing video games and watching Star Wars Episode 1 with my husband.

As always they played all night, and at noon Andrew and one of his remaining attendees fell asleep on the living room floor, & slept through lunch with the 4 remaining brothers & missed them leaving.

I can not believe I had to go to work today.

[Nonoluna]

Feb. 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM

Although it was probably a bit of chaos, it sounds like everything turned out really well overall! Quite the day for everyone!

Congratulations to Andrew!!!

[Abomnablesnogrl]

Feb. 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM

Sweet. Maria.

You held it all together HOW?  Do you give lessons in poise and composure?

[momothree5]

Mar. 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM

Crazy day but you did it all.  It was fine to duck out as long as he understands that this was an extraordinary set of cirucmstances.  At my daughter's graduation, people left the instant their child's name was called - now THAT is rude!

[momothree5]

Mar. 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM

OH - btw - congrats on the superior rating!!!