DS is singing a solo in his first external concert tonight with a prestigious orchestra and choir. He hasn't been well prepared for it (he was the stand in and never sung a solo before although the audience do not know that!!!) and it is not perfect and I am so nervous for him (and me!) that he is going to mess it up. DS and I have bought tickets which were hefty and yet there is no way I am going to enjoy the night until he has done his bit and if it is a disaster then I won't enjoy the whole evening...and breath!

I need some coping techniques for the above and especially if I over hear someone saying, "He's nowhere near as good as the other boy"!!!

A billiard ball in a sock?

Keep them coming, you've managed to raise a laugh and that's a mere miracle today!

Got any Valium handy?

Was thinking about hitting the wine but then I will not notice any of the hiccups (mine or his errors) and I'll start blubbering at my baby up on the stage!

I do take Rescue Remedy to help calm me down before such things! DS also takes it before his exams. Sounds like you get into a similar state as I do I can't even take DS to exams as I'm so wound up myself that I'm sure it would rub off!

I'm sure things won't be nearly as bad as you dread and if mistakes are made then be proud that he has the guts to get up there and 'step into the breach'. If people are petty minded enough to make comments then stuff them, they aren't worth the bother. You know your son and what he's achieved so rise above everything else. Or you could get in first and say loudly to your DH "Hasn't he done well considering he stepped in at the last minute?".

I always have a tear or two when I hear my DS playing - shows you're a good mum!

I'm sure we've got some out of date rescue remedy somewhere. I feel sick!

A double brandy!!

Just try not to pass your nerves on to DS, it's a fine line. Best of luck to you both LOL

Thankfully for him, DS is at rehearsal so the first I'll see of him is on the stage.

No rescue remedy but I found equally out of date brandy that someone must have brought to the house eons ago and I had a swig. Nerves still there but at the moment the burning throat and nausea from that vile drink has taken over!

Didn't know brandy went out of date, so you'll be all right with it I'm sure.

Good thing DS is busy til the event and that you won't see him beforehand. Some deep breaths always do the trick for me. You can't do anything about anything now, so no use worrying. There'll be nothing to worry about anyway.

Best of luck to MNW junior!

He will be FINE, and you will be a very proud Mum. He wouldn't have been given this opportunity if the powers that be didn't think he was up to it. Sit back and enjoy (ha flippin' ha) - I'm off to see DD playing this evening - percussion for the Planets - no pressure, then.....

I think nerves as a parent are the very worst, because there is not a thing you can do to help them or yourself. Just have to grit your teeth and praise them, no matter what. Think of it as a character building experience for all concerned!

Susie, you managed to take my mind of things for twenty minutes as I read your signature and thought I could be a fan of fungi!

SueHM, does my son need to build anymore character? Why is it character building for children but the same scenarios knock some years off/add grey hairs to the parents!

Good luck to DD. I love the planets!

I get more nervous watching DD (when she was singing with the band in the cave at Christmas I couldn't play my flute in the band, I had to mime!!) than when I'm singing myself.

As the others say, TRY to enjoy the concert, he will be fine, I'm sure. They'll be working hard, knowing he's a stand in, so it will be as close to perfect as possible tonight. Hang on to that thought. I'll be thinking of you!!

Just think of it as adding gravitas and making you look more distinguished...

Remember, just do like the Royal Family, smile and wave, smile and wave!

Musn't wave SueHM, because then the audience will know who the mother is, if the wimpering hasn't already given it away. Now my nerves have turned and I am now nervous about not holding it together. I don't like this musical child malarky.

I'm a wreck when mine play. My elder daughter has started telling me to remember to breathe. It didn't matter when they first started, but the pieces are quite long now and I could suffocate.

It's worse as a parent because you desperately don't want the children to be hurt or upset, it's just maternal instinct to want to spare your child the pain of failure.

Havign said that I'm sure the singing nitwit will be wonderful.

This had me decked when I read it!!
Good luck to your son, and also to you!! I'm sure he'll be fabulous

Oh dear - too late to offer words of encouragement - was out all day - B1's concert finally over. Singing and violin both lovely but I now hold the crown for pushy mother of the century because I had to go backstage at 'half time' with her antibiotics in a chiller bag.

I'm sure the LittlestNitWit did splendidly and now matter how much you may want to blush over your own nerves and tears I guarantee you behaved better than my 71 year old mother, who has never heard B1 sing or play in public before.

She sat in the middle of the front row (in the seats which everyone else avoided because they thought they were reserved for civic dignitaries) but she moved up and down the row between performances, according to where she could get the best view of her darling (centre left for duet, centre right for ensemble - dead centre for the violin solo and actually perched between two seats so she 'can see her face' in the orchestra finale.) My mother also cried - not only when B1 performed but also during a sax solo, a solo song, and a rock ensemble! The best moment was when she turned the Director of Music and said -
"I don't like Music - but I enjoyed that."

Any more of that out of date brandy left, MNW?

Let us know how things went - hope you're a very proud Mum tonight.

Hilarious Tonedeafmum!

It was ok. I didn't get to enjoy any of it because his darn song was near the end. My hands were sweaty and face red but no tears. He didn't do his best, there were wobbles but it could have been much, much worse. I'm not sure he'll get booked again. I NEVER want to go through that again - EVER!!!

BTDT but never anywhere prestigious. Would give you encouraging anecdotes but I'm bombed from my own orchestral concert and I've got to sing Carmina Burana tomorrow as well... and i can't have a drink as i've had root canal work and am on antibiotics :-(

Just thinking about you and your DS and wondering how it all went. It must all be over by now and you will be out of your misery!!!

Just saw your post - Fantastic news Now you can relax and enjoy Mummy's Day tomorrow

Hugs coming your way!

Tonedeafmum - Your mum sounds great fun!!! I bet you'll take her to every concert from now on! My mum cries over the phone when she hears DS practising! She's not seen him in concert yet! I can't wait!

Night night!

Oh yeah?

Your turn will come

You can always take the billiard ball and sock to knock yourself out if you can't stand it...

Well done to LittleNitWit!

I've so been there! Loud complaints about the girls not being on the front or doing a certain dance





You have to treat everyone of these opportunities as a learning curve. Make the whole experience into a positive and build on it for next time.

Emsoboes soloist teacher always says the perfect performance si a myth and little errors are to be expected even amungst the most experience.

In reality I'm not much better at keeping it together than anyone else. Think I'm of the hold the breath variety

That will be a learning curve for me then!





How were the planets SueHM? Hopefully no new craters were formed by your DD's bashing...I mean performance!