Do you have a passion? Something that moves you? Something you can not live without? I don’t think I do. I mean, I have many things I love, many things that make my life better.
Reading? Maybe reading is my passion.† I do love to read. I can’t imagine living without it…so I suppose reading is mine.
My child’s passion is acting. She loves being on the stage more than anything else in the world. She first auditioned when she was barely 6 and sang, “Tomorrow” from Annie. I was scared to death for her. She wasn’t nervous in the least. She has never been nervous…ever…not one time. She wishes she could practice every day. She wakes up excited if she has practice that day. She practices her lines over and over and over and you get the picture. 🙂
1. Her 1st role – a bee in “Jungle Book”. Everyone called her “Queen Bee”. She had to stay on stage the entire time. She was adorable. No lines, just songs.
2. Her 2nd role. A Chihuahua in “101 Dalmatians”. She had her first lines in this play. I think she had 3.
3.A flower in “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty”. She was in 3 scenes. She had a ballet dance that began the show, a scene where they gave Sleeping Beauty her gifts as a baby and when Sleeping Beauty married her Prince.
4. Meeko in “Pocahontas” She did a little dance and was in 3 other scenes with Pocahontas.
1. and 2. This was for “Wonderland”. She had 2 roles; a red pawn and a Dixie Chicken that was Humpty Dumpty’s back up singers. She had to change clothes down to her tights and a wig; in about 2 minutes! Freaked me out, but she did it every time.
3. Cindy Lou Who in “Seussical”. She loved this role!
1. She was in “101 Dalmatians” again with a different theatre company. She wanted the role of Horace so badly and got it! Her first time playing a ‘boy’ role.
2.† She was a maid in “Annie”. She had 2 dances. We loved doing this play.
3. Scout in “To Kill A Mockingbird” 217 lines! She did such a great job. This is one of her favorite roles.
4.The Wicked Witch in “The Wizard of Oz”. She did evil very well. A little boy in the audience had to be taken out and he wouldn’t come back in! She felt really bad and also giggled just a bit.
Now we are working on play number 11. I get exhausted at times. Plays are a lot of work and not just for the actors. I always help back stage and of course I have to provide transportation. I don’t really mind, I love it too.
Who knows where this will lead Kei. She already knows where she ‘thinks’ she wants to go to college. It is a college with a wonderful “Theater Arts” program. She may change her mind before the time actually comes But she usually makes her mind up and sticks to it.
Passion…
What do you do to inspire and nurture your children’s passion?
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ~Nelson Mandela
“One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.”† ~ E. M. Forster
“There is no greatness without a passion to be great, whether it’s the aspiration of an athlete or an artist, a scientist, a parent, or a businessperson.” ~ Anthony Robbins
I loved seeing the photos of your daughter and learning about her passion. We enjoy going to plays by CYT (Christian Youth Theater) around here, though my daughter is too shy to try out. That’s ok with me, though!
As far as her passion – hers is ANIMALS. Big time!!! And, she wants to be a vet. I know all about that as my sister wanted to be a vet since she was little…and she is one! They are very much alike. Right now, I take my daughter to horseback riding lessons and…starting this summer…she’ll be able to volunteer at a shelter! Of course, she’s young enough that I’ll be volunteering right along side her!
What a wonderful post! It’s a tremendous blessing that she’s discovered her passion at such a young age. I can’t think of a better path to a joyful, meaningful life.
I must have missed this earlier. I love seeing the photos of Keilee as a little girl!
How awesome that she has found something she is passionate about!
Ha! Move over Meryl Streep.
Karen, I loved this collage! Loved seeing Kei completely in her element from such a young age. It is utterly her elementóyou can see the joy just shining out. So lovely and thank you so much for sharing! I tell my kids about Kei all the time 🙂
I’ve been thinking recently about my kids and how clear their passions are, at the ages of 9 and 11. People have said to me, “Well, they might not end up as an artist/writer/musician. Maybe they’ll change their minds and become doctors or architects.” I don’t know about that. Their passions are SO distinct already, so closely followed. My girl writes from the moment she wakes up; she is drawing constantly; she loves graphic art and animationóart and words are constant stars in her universe. My boy practices for hours; listens to jazz on his dad’s old iPhone; goes to concerts; lives and breathes musicóhe says he wants to study jazz at Julliard (maybe he’ll see Kei there?!). So yes, my two and your beautiful Kei are kids still, but they already know/see/understand more about their true selves than I ever did at their age! How inspiring that is to see.
Thank you, Karen, for words that make me smile and think so deeply! I LOVE coming here.
A passion is truly a gift from God. You can’t give it to someone, and you can’t really pass it on. It just appears, takes root, and grows. I feel that way about Grace and the piano. And I have just seen the passion for DI take root in Lilah. That was super exciting, because everyone associates Grace = piano, but with Lilah there has not been a passion that defines her.
I was just talking to my Mom about Kei, telling her how talented she is and how I truly believe this passion will take her far, as far as she would like to go with it.
Are you making a dvd to show to agents? Summerstock in Upstate New York? Broadway? I know I will see this amazing girl perform. I just know it!
I love this, Karen…especially the quotes you shared. Great post:)
You have such a beautiful, talented daughter and you are doing so much to foster that passion in her!
I am passionate about learning, fun, and making the most of each day of my life!
I think the way you did the photos of all of her roles is very cool! I loved seeing them 🙂 It’s amazing that Keilee has such passion for acting. I’m with you, I think reading is my passion…I love books. I’m pretty passionate about my family and homeschooling, too, though 😉
I, too, have a hard time identifying my passion and a really easy time identifying my kid’s! Davan feels just the same about aerial arts as Kei does about theater – wakes up happy if it’s a practice day. The hours she puts in and the money we spend, oh my, but it’s worth it to see how pumped up about life it makes her to do it.
I, too, loved seeing all the pictures of Kei in her various roles – awesome!
I love all of the photos of Kei’s roles! Wow! She definitely has a gift! 🙂 How beautiful is homeschooling that she can pursue her interests like that! I can’t wait to hear all about the new role! Many blessings, Lisa
Reading and theater.