Body doubled Lydia so she dressed and then set her to breakfast as well whilst getting to alay her nerves.
Then off to the Thornden Hall for 9am with three packed lunches as I was going to help with doing hair for the dance school. Super foggy on the drive, with the kids singing alphabet songs together and bickering alternately as we went. Discussed faking it till you make it and how the most important thing today was to smile throughout your performance even if you go wrong.
Always strikes me when I go to the Thornden School with its excellent facilities the difference in funding and feel between these suburban or small town schools and the city centre schools.
Then having dropped the kids in their respective age group rooms, walked into the chaos of pre-show prep. Today, I was grateful for years of life experience and feeling confident enough to just muck in, asking for help and guidance when I needed it but with enough knowledge and experience to get on with the job despite not knowing any of the helpers and kids.
I think I must have done around 40 or so buns and pony tails, through from centre part slick backs with tiaras and pearl pins for the seniors, butterfly buns for the middles and high ponies for the littlest ones. This year I was not afraid of the gel and slathered it on, fighting over the one bristle brush with the perfect firmness of bristles to smooth all the fly aways. My hands are still sticky after having been washed multiple times.
Once all the hair was done, I quickly ate some lunch and went to help with dressing the tiniest before waiting for Tom and his Mum to arrive to watch the first performance.
Happily everyone did very well, including both my girls. Both remembered to smile, Lydia had particularly expressive arms, hands and upper body movements, and Phoebe was one of the most confident in her class, giving it some sass. Had a little happy cry as I've been anxious about this, whether it would be too much for Lydia or if Phoebe would be too scared. We had good seats in the second row so had a fab view.
After the show, said goodbye to the mother in law, and went to meet my sister and family in the car park as we were looking after my niece Aoife whilst they went to see Bill Bailey. She was full of the joys of her recent birthday parties and trips to see live action Frozen at the theatre.
Tom went out to pick up the second hand bike we'd bought Aoife for her birthday and whilst he was out, I set Aoife up with colouring and building toys whilst I made dairy free chocolate pudding for dessert this evening. Then we went out to the shop on the way to pick up the girls to choose bunches of flowers for them. I have such memories of my grandparents always presenting us with flowers after our dance shows whilst we were growing up, 'just like real ballerinas'.
When we got there, the audience were just leaving so left Aoife with my parents who'd arrived to watch the second show whilst I queued to pick up the girls. Phoebe came out full of beans and joy, Lydia distraught that she'd not got a medal in the prize giving, feeling keenly it was unfair. So had to spend the time walking to the car trying to calm her. I'd built up in my head that they'd both be excited and this would be a nice memory for us all but instead I'm there trying to be someone's emotional regulation yet again, being yelled at yet again.
Once home, Lydia calmed down whilst arranging her flowers, but Phoebe kept losing her cool over music up dance to in the game they were all playing. So much for a nice hour catching up with my parents whilst dinner was cooking.
Managed to get everyone round the table eventually for the roast gammon dinner Tom had made, and Ellie and Andy arrived back just as we were finishing our main course. Never knowingly under catered worked in our favour so were able to rustle up another couple of plates for them. Aoife birthday cake and chocolate pudding for dessert and a few peaceful moments whilst the kids played to help my mum with her email login woes.
Everyone left at kid bedtime, and I spent the evening snuggling Lydia trying to get her to calm down. I've since been prepping for work tomorrow and am about to do some Christmas shopping.
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