It's hard to truly enjoy an event when your mind is rolling a mile a minute about something else going on, another event you are planning/in charge of. I realized this today, but not until I had already missed the moment.
My daughter had her awards ceremony at school today. It was just the regular, end of year awards ceremony. There was nothing special about it, there were no frills about the "Ceremony". I did not think much about it as I arrived. I did remember the camera, but did not really take many photo's. They were just calling off names as the child stepped forward. The children were absolutely loving their moment in the spot light. Some had their arms crossed, while others tilted their heads down looking at their shoes. There were many giggling of embarrassment and other with pure shock as they won an award. The children were in the moment and enjoying what they were experiencing.
I, on the other hand, was thinking about how I had not yet made any copies of the papers to hand out this evening at Parent Orientation for Kamp Kermit. I was remembering that I had not yet gone in and separated all the counselors shirts nor picked a color for us to wear this evening. I was not sure if it was still OK if we used the new TV to play the DVD from last summer, if we had decided on snacks/no snacks, were we able to reach the principal to see if we could get into our room for this summer and show parents? Which door is going to be best for our parents to use when dropping children off? WHERE are we going to have sign in/sign out this summer? I have to show the parents because they need to know tonight! I was laughing and thinking back on old days at 9th & O with some friends, who also have a child in my daughters school. We were poking fun at some of the kids~come on, you know you do it too. Of course, none of the kids knew we were poking fun or what we were doing. I then began thinking about old times in high school and hilarious stuff we did as "kids". My thoughts were drifting from memories to current "OH MY GOSH, PARENT ORIENTATION IS TONIGHT!". I felt like I was prepared up until today! I was not truly listening to anything the PE teacher said as he took the mic. He must have asked a question because the audience was yelling out an answer. How could I really not hear anything? I always listen or at least know what some one has said. . .my mind was not focused on the task at hand.
Then he begins to call each class up one at a time. I think "really? cant we just be done, I have a million things to finish and now you're calling EVERY stinkin' class up here again?". Yes, this sounds terrible but all I could think was exactly how many minutes I had to finish up tasks before 6:30pm. My goal was 5pm, but I knew I had ultimately until close to 6pm. IF we leave at this time then I have this much time to finish. You see where my thoughts were at this point. I look up and realize they're only to the 3rd grade :-/ ugh!
The ceremony finally ends with one of my daughters friends praying as we leave. He is a super cute little boy and one of her dear friends. I did listen to this. He was straight to the point and right on. I was happy to pick up my child and head home. Then I hear " you must go to the office and sign your child out, we will be driving them back to school in the bus".Of course you will. I hurry to my car after saying goodbye to some friends and head up to school ASAP. There were a lot of parents and I didn't want to wait.
I am the second parent to arrive and sign my daughter out. I wait until they arrive on the bus and tell her to come on because I have things to do.
Thankfully, I completed all of my list prior to the parents orientation. I don't know that I said everything perfect or completed it all perfectly, but I completed it. The parents asked questions and I was so proud of myself for being prepared. I knew the answers to every question, I felt like we were prepared and the evening went well.
As we were about to leave my daughter keeps whispering in my ear (as other adults are talking) "mommy, tell them about my award I got today that the president signed AND the letter". I then announce to the other staff still there, that Elyssa had won this awesome award and I was so proud to tell them. You should have seen the smile on her face, she was shy to tell them but so proud when I shared the information. That got my mind going again. . .
How did I completely miss that program earlier today? I was so proud of her and had looked at her awards but I didn't let it sink in. I had been so preoccupied with what I needed to do that I didn't stop and share in her enjoyment. Those kids were SO excited when their PE teacher called them up on stage. He didn't do it to take more time, he did it because each child was excited to be called back up to stage. Each child, no matter how they showed it, enjoyed the recognition. I understand that~I have worked with kids for 15 years now. I have worked school, pre-school and camp settings, I get the idea of today. I just completely missed it!
I have allowed my wandering mind to take a rest as I enjoy my daughter's accomplishments. I am truly proud of her. I am so proud that I've taken the time to post the awards (after scanning them) to this blog and my FB account. I also e-mailed them to the organization that gives scholarships to her so she can attend private school. I want every one to see what a great job my daughter did and how her hard work paid off.
I just need to remember to stop and enjoy these moments, take a break from what I'm thinking and absorb what is going on around me.
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