Church Christmas Pageant worked out okay, whew!

[kirstenb1]

Every year our church does the children's Christmas pageant. There is a narrator, Mary and Joseph, the innkeeper, Gabriel, the Wise Men, and shepherds/angels.

Our older dd who's 12 has done most roles throughout the years. Our younger dd who's 5 has ASD, and I've never pushed her to participate. This year I asked her if she wanted to be an angel (low-key, non speaking part, basically just looking angelic).

I never know if I'm pushing her too hard, or not enough. Well while we were waiting in the sacristy (little room off the front of the church), she said it was too loud, and started growling, which she does when she gets frustrated. The angels go out on stage 3 times during the pageant. She bagged the first time, cause she was frustrated.

But she actually went out the next 2 times, holding her big sister's hand, yay!! And so many friends came up to her after church and told her they were proud of her. I'm glad she tried this!

 

[bookwormde]

Sounds like you handled it perfectly, offering without pushing. That is the formula for allowing our kids to "grow". These moments are magical.

bookwormde

 

[C&G'sMama]

DS's first time in the Christmas pageant he was 4. He was a cow. He declared in the middle of rehearsal "THIS IS BORING". But he and one of the other cows made it more interesting by wandering over to the stable (on all fours) because "cows don't stand still you know".

He didn't yell this is boring during the play but did during communion with the priest right in front of us

3 years later he is a Roman Soldier. They march into the Star Wars theme. He is quite serious as a soldier and was worried they wouldn't have a costume to fit him. They had dress rehearsal today. The belt/skirt thing, shield and hat (or whatever it's called) fit him just fine.

Our kids are the best

Sounds like you did a good job.

 

[kirstenb1]

Thanks Bookwormde and C and G's Mama. I really appreciate your kind thoughts!

I really do worry when I push Zoe into these group, loud, public situations. Sometimes, I know I have to push, and sometimes, I really worry I'm being cruel. I just don't ever want to regret that I didn't give her the chance to do everything her sister has done. And I am always scared that time is ticking, and we have a small window to work with.

When she got home, she was still kind of stressed and growly. Then she and DH sat down and watched her favorite Scooby-Doo episodes. He adores her, and always calms her down. He says he understands her completely, and wouldn't want to go on stage either!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Those are the sorts of things that make the pageants endearing.