So 4F is pretty shy and definitely has some anxiety. She’s in therapy for that among other things.

Anyway, her preschool had a Halloween concert and it was an absolute nightmare for 4F - tears, hiding, refusing to participate - I told her at the end I was proud she even stood up on the stage. Well their Christmas concert was this Friday. About a week and a half ago 4F told me that she really wanted to sing at it but she was scared. So we started practicing. I learned all of her songs and we sang them on repeat in the car - we didn’t know a lot of the lyrics (she goes to Catholic school and I’m Jewish) so I found the ones I could on YouTube and emailed the teacher for the rest.

We set up stuffed animals at therapy and at home and practiced standing onstage and singing to them. We talked about how it’s okay if your heart goes super fast when you stand onstage too - we saw The Nutcracker two weeks ago and talked about stage fright there. We practiced first with me singing and holding her and then with me singing from farther and farther away and then me as an audience member. Then we had a practice concert with MB where we both watched and cheered like crazy.

I missed the concert on Friday (stupid out of town bachelorette party) and I was so sad. But guys! SHE DID IT! She got onstage and she sang! I was so proud of her, but more importantly she was proud of herself for doing it. And yes, when MB sent me the videos I 100% cried. I can’t wait to tell her therapist.