Superstar



Journaling reads:

A few weeks back, Shelby jumped in the car after school and announced “I’m going to be in the talent show.”

“Really? What’s your talent; what are you going to do?” I asked.
“I’m going to hula hoop Mom,” she said with total confidence.
And so the journey to today’s talent show began. Daddy and Shelby choreographed a routine.  Music was debated and “Walking on Sunshine” was selected. Shelby made it to nearly every 7:30 a.m. practice, which was a miracle since we have trouble even making it to school when it starts at 8:54. Every night she practiced and perfected her routine. And all the while I was in awe of her willingness to put herself out there. At her first rehearsal she ran off the stage, beyond scared, with a tummy ache. But she went back, day after day, and conquered her fear.
Shelby was the youngest kid to perform in the show and the only first grader. When she took the stage she looked a little bit like a scared mouse. But when her music started a switched flipped and Shelby hula hooped her little heart out. The kids in the audience ooh’d and aah’d. They were so impressed with her talent. She can hula hoop around her knees. She can hula hoop around her neck. She can run while hula hooping. She can dance and hula hoop. She can do all sorts of fun and cool tricks … it’s quite impressive.
When the song was over, the crowd roared. Shelby bowed and a huge smile spread across her face. She did it. She really did it. And I could be prouder. I’ve never, ever performed in a talent show and certainly didn’t do it willingly at seven. I still get nervous when I get in front of crowds, and I do it all the time. But Shelby, she’s a firecracker. She’s fearless. And I know she’s going to do great, great things.
Note: As I was typing this up, Shelby sat next to me so she could see the photos from today’s show. She asked me if I’d make her a scrapbook page … and so I read her the journaling I’d done for the page I was working on … when I was done she said “I’m even proud of myself.” When she got on stage today she got one of those “I’m scared and don’t want to perform” tummy aches, but she did it anyway.

Journaling: May 17, 2011