If you follow me on Twitter, you know Mikey sings in the church children’s choir and this past week auditioned to sing the responsorial psalm on a whim. You also know he got the part (!!!) and that I’ve been a nervous wreck ever since. The choir is newly formed but already has over 50 children ranging in age from kindergarten to high school. At the risk of geeking out, the choir is exciting to witness. No matter how jaded you are, there is something about 57 warbling children that pinks up even the blackest heart. And you know what? I shouldn’t say they warble. Thanks to the directing priest, a man who crosses the passion of Bob Fosse� with the compassion of Will Schuester, the kids are good.
Really good.
Remarkably good for one month of practice and two masses.
Only 10-12 children auditioned, and I think that’s because we, the parents, still don’t know what we’re doing. In fact, Mikey auditioned only because my friend, Jen, pointed out the small group of children lining up at the piano after practice. Somehow I missed that announcement. Anyway, thanks to her, Mikey sang his solo this Sunday after two days of practice at home with a wrinkled song sheet and Youtube videos. Wow. People, I didn’t know stress until I learned my seven year old child was going to lead 50 children and a congregation of over 600 parishioners in song. I didn’t sleep one minute of the night before mass.
This post may be as exciting as viewing your uncle’s vacation pictures, but I’m pulling the mom card and showing off my boy. A couple of things you should note about the video. Yes, I’ve included a video. I have no shame.
- The piano commands the audio. You can hear Mikey, but I wish you could have heard his voice bouncing off those high ceilings.
- That little smile he makes before he starts singing is his “I’m nervous” smile. I’ll have to double check with Tyra, but I think it’s No. 152.
- He screwed up. He sang the 4th verse before the 3rd. You can see him realize his gaffe at 2:11. He’s not happy. The cantor has him keep singing the 4th verse.
- At 2:21, Mikey starts to wonder what the hell he’s going to do.
- The priest notices his distress and steps in to tell him not to worry while everyone is singing the chorus. “Don’t worry Mikey, no one knows the words, so no one knows you sang the wrong verse.”
- The Mister, sitting in front of me and to my left, chuckles and shakes the camera.
- Mikey makes an executive decision and flips the verses, closing with the third. He tells the cantor of his plan. He puts his hands in his pockets–a sign of nerves–and pulls them out when he notices what he’s done. They aren’t allowed to sing with their hands in their pockets.
- You can tell by his furrowed brow he is not happy. (He won’t watch this video. Of course, all he’s focused on is his mistake, which no one noticed.)
- I sat in the second row with my friends, Jen and Viola, on either side of me. I had a death grip on Jen’s hand and Viola’s forearm. Death grip. At 3:18 I let go and whisper “Sorry” to Jen. At 3:23, I chuckle and say sorry again, this time jokingly wiping the sweat from her palm. My skin was a thousand degrees from nerves, sweat pouring off me in waves. I’m sure Jen felt like she was holding hands with a used dish rag.
- At 3:30, Mikey goes back to his spot in the choir and tells his friends of his mix up.
- And they lived happily ever after.
Go ahead, see for yourself.
Okay, maybe that last bullet remains to be seen, but I’m confident we can make it happen with some hard work. If a seven year old can sing in front of a church full of adults, there isn’t much any of us can’t do.
He is a adorable! Nothing wrong with being a proud mom!!
That was beautiful. I’m crying! you are a good Momma and should be very proud.
I got a little teary … there’s something about wee folk singing to the Lord that brings on the waterworks. Of course, it’s a good thing I wasn’t there in person, because I would have wanted to clap when it was all said and done … remnants of my holy roller upbringing, you know. But seriously … it deserved a round of applause, non?! I’m pretty sure God would agree …
Everyone wanted to applaud. Viola turned to me and said, “Can’t we applaud? It’s not fair; I want to!” At the end of mass they did an incredible rendition of “Put Your Hand in the Hand in the Man Who Stilled the Water” that had everyone clapping and singing (and not running out the door because mass was over). After that, everyone bowed and Fr. tried to get Mikey out for a special bow, but he refused. :)
Were you crying? I would be crying. The little shrug at the end was telling of his great attitude about it all.
I know its church, but I wanted applause : )
Catching up on the blog from vacation.=lovely.
Surprisingly, I didn’t cry. I was so NERVOUS for him that I just sat there, petrified, breaking my friends’ arms and hands with my super-human death grip. Everyone else had tears in their eyes, though, including the Mister.
Wow! What a true leader he is! Cool and composed, none of the kids behind him questioned what he was doing — they all understood, and the performance, to the audience, was flawless!
That was the responsorial psalm we used at our wedding–I love it! What courage.
What a champ! And such guts and courage! Mikey did a fantastic job and you should be a proud mama indeed! Thanks for sharing that special moment.
Aw, such a proud mama bear:)
You have no idea. I’ve watched this video ten thousand times today.
I’m teary myself! If I had a video like this of Ethan, I’m pretty sure I’d turn to it in low moments so I could watch it and weep pathetically.
We all thought Mikey did a fabulous job! You and Mikey should be very proud! Bravo to the singer in the family!
Mikey did GREAT! He is a rock star! Look at that confidence. Great job, Mikey AND Mikey’s mom!
Thanks, Jen. :)
Aww Jules, he did great! Such confidence! You’re doing such a fantastic job with your boys, you must be one proud mama :)
xoxo
BEYOND precious….what a darling little boy you have Jules, and if you can’t be proud at moments like these, when can you? Bravo to you both…that shrug at the end is adorable, the innocence and competence is something you wish could stay with them always…here’s hoping.
A big fan in Australia
xo
Honestly, I loved when he raised his arms in the air as the chorus kicked in–adorable! And to make the executive decision to flip the verses in the end took some quick thinking on his part, he’ll be a good problem solver for sure. Too cute indeed.
As a side note, I watched the other video that popped up on vimeo of the lord’s prayer–oh my goodness is that ever precious! You have every right to be a proud mom, your boys are ridiculously adorable!
Thanks, Billie. Interesting fact about Catholic masses: the cantor (Mikey) sings the responsrial psalm and the congregation + choir sing the refrain (chorus). The cue for them to sing is the raising of the hands. I thought all churches did this sort of thing, but since you aren’t the first person to mention the raising of the arms, I’ve realized it must be a Catholic thing!
Oh my gosh, I have goosebumps. You have amazing kids and a beautiful family!
Jules, i love your post and the play by play….so exactly what it was like/ the kids are doing amazing. I teared up at Mikey’s first beautifully clear note and felt like clapping at the end, too :) And that closing number was crazy, wasn’t it? I mean NObody left the church before that last note, which almost as unheard of as people clapping at the 8:30 mass. Thought I was at the 5:15 for a sec. :) THANKS for sharing the video and the story and for including me….and for holding my hand, too! Jen
Awwww, I was sitting here watching it at 10 PM, and just as it finished I heard a noise and my just-turned-four-yesterday daughter was coming down the stairs and sleepily said, “I like that music Mommy.” I told her she could listen and watch it tomorrow, and we snuggled on the couch for awhile. THANK YOU!!! Kinda lonely around here in the evenings as Hubby is gone for two weeks with the Amy Natl Guard. Beautiful, thank you.
OH MY BUNNY BOY!!!! I Love him! I just saw this… Thank you for sharing the video. Tell him that it sounded perfect to Mrs. Martin! I think that your narrative & watching his furrowed brow, eyes raised to heaven & then the shrug at the end just makes me love him more!
I’m wiping a tear! Possibly the most precious thing I’ve seen in a long long time. I don’t even know you and I’M so proud of him!!!
Oh, how sweet! That just made my night. There truly is nothing better than children praising God in their sweet, innocent voices. I have to brag on my little one, too, singing “Blessed Be Your Name.” http://lilaliyah.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/blessed/
Ok, this is sad but i just reread this whole thing! Thanks to your blog, I remember this day like it was yesterday. I’m thinking we should have had a camera trained on us and our clutched hands!! Thanks Jules for immortalizing the moment. Jen