dra∑ma
[drah-muh, dram-uh] noun
1. a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.
2. any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results: the drama of a murder trial.
This has been a week of drama.† Some good, some† bad.† I have found out things about myself.† I donít deal well with bad drama.
Keilee was in Fine Arts Camp this week.† She was asked to be a counselor from 9-2 each day and then she had an ìAfter Hoursî camp from 3-6.† Then we had play practice from 6:30-9:00.† I was asked to help in the 1st camp, from 8:15-2:30.
It was A.Long.Week.
She loved parts of it.† In the After Hours classes, for kids 6-12 grades, she did Improv for the first time and spent hours working on drama techniques and applications.† In her Production class she learned so much about the production of a play.† The teacher of the class told me he was amazed by her ideas and her vision.† He said the other kids hung back and waited for instruction but she just took control.† It really, REALLY showed me the difference in self directed homeschooling kids.† They are used to seeing what needs to be done and doing it.
ButÖshe hated parts of it.† There was an adult who was very ugly to her and said some things that were totally uncalled for.† She didnít tell me until we got home Wednesday night.† I went into Mamma Bear mode and was ready to go hunting and she begged me to let her talk to the director of the Program herself about it.† I was really proud of her for wanting to deal with it herself.† I am not sure at 12 I would have felt comfortable doing it.† I am not comfortable doing things like that even now!† The director, who had already told me about a dozen times how much he loved Keilee, was wonderful.† He immediately came to get me and was furious with this adult.† He told her this behavior would not be accepted and we heard she was asked to leave.† She had obviously caused problems in other areas too and said some things to other kids.† It kind of put a damper on the whole experience for me to tell you the truth.
Keilee and another 12 year old girl were in charge of 23 8 year olds.† There was bad drama there too.† Bullying and tears and boo boos and feelings hurt.† I was seriously emotionally drained.† I was in tears a few times.† And I wasnít even the one dealing with her group drama.† I just helped with other things.
Keilee couldnít believe the behavior of some of the kids, the disrespect they showed the adults, the running wild, the not listening, the way they treated each other, the language.† Of course she also had kids she adored, who hung all over her and even made her cards they gave her at the final performance.
I was so surprised how many kids would say to me, ìso and so bullied meî.† BulliedÖlike it was just another verbÖ
There was also good dramaÖfun times but honestly I feel like the bad outweighed the good.
It makes me doubly thankful that we homeschool.† That our days consist of waking up on our time, learning what we want to learn, playing outside, laughing and hugs and conversation.
I learned this week that my life is such a blessing.†† And days of doing nothing sound close to heaven.
Now if we can only survive Show Week next week.† After this week it should be a walk in the park.
Linking up with Mary at “Collage Fridays”
Susan, sorry I don’t have a favorite resource, unless surviving on 5 hours a sleep a night is a resource! 🙂
†Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
ìThe stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life.î† ~ Oscar Wilde
Sorry someone who was supposed to be supportive was negative instead. But I’m so proud that K. wanted to deal with the problem herself! Go, girl!
My kids had a bad experience with a grumpy, insulting art teacher last summer. Nearly turned them off of the entire program, but luckily their next teacher was excellent! Why do people do these jobs if they aren’t good with kids?!?!
Sounds like she had a very mixed experience, I guess you could say it was a learning experience. My kids are always amazed at other kids’ behavior–it just makes me grateful for being able to do what we do!
I am sorry Keilee had to cope with these negative experiences with people. As a parent, it is heart wrenching to hear things like that. Overall, I hope it was fun and enriching for her.
What a busy week! I’m so sorry that Keilee had to deal with the inappropriate adult situation. That’s a tough one that Davan struggles with at 14. I’m really impressed she was able to handle it herself.
I hope you’re enjoying a weekend of recovery and remembering the good times from the week. 🙂
I love how Keilee reacted to all that was going on! Such maturity for her age:)
Glad y’all made it through a busy and kind of difficult week! Blessings to you both and wishes for a nice, peaceful week ahead.
Nothing like a busy “drama” week. So sorry you guys had such a hard time in parts of it. We have a similar week coming up in July with anime camp in the mornings and chemistry camp in the afternoon. Just too much fun stuff to choose from. Have a great, relaxing weekend.
Blessings
Diane
holy-busy-schedule-batman! bless your mama heart. the schedule is enough without having to confront such draining drama. i know you must be so proud of your sweet girl for taking the higher road in this situation.
but, from one mama bear to another… i understand. there’s much more added stress when our homeschool theater group meets together to do a show with the public school cast (no offense, i hope!) – just such a different atmosphere.
hope show week will have less drama… the kind we don’t want, anyway. 😉 have fun… then kick your feet up, mama. you deserve it! (((hugs)))
What an experience! UGH! I can believe that you are absolutely drained! How great for Keilee, though, to handle the whole situation in such a mature way 🙂
I know exactly what you mean about these sorts of experiences making you see what a blessing your own life is…I go through that plenty of times, typically after interacting with public school kids and hearing about the related issues from their parents.
I think that this week of drama camp was certainly a resource of its own…not one that everyone else can participate in, of course…but loads of lessons, bad and good, were gained from it. And, yes, surviving on 5 hours of sleep through all of this drama is a definite resource 😉
Enjoy the weekend!!!!
I think we have moments like this to reassure and hold us up during the days where we question ourselves and the path we chose. Kei is an amazingly mature child. I would never have had the confidence to tackle this on my own at 12…..I am like you….I hate it at 40!
How wonderful that Keilee is such an independent, creative and courageous young lady! I don’t think I would have had the guts to handle a situation like that at 12 years old. Good for her. I am glad that the director saw how inappropriate that adult’s behavior was and asked her to leave. I am surprised, though, that two 12 year olds would be put in change of that many 8 year olds. That’s a lot in any situation, let alone, where kids are being disrespectful and bullying. It is really so sad today. Oh, and I completely understand the Mama Bear thing. Been there. 🙂 Homeschooling is such an incredible blessing for more reasons that one and I am realizing that more and more everyday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, friend!
Wow, that does sound like a busy and somewhat hard week. Sounds like it was even harder for Momma. Hugs. My oldest and youngest are wanting to get into theater, too. We shall see what I can find. I am glad you homeschool, too.
Sorry there was so much emotional tension. 🙁 I know what it’s like when Mamma Bear comes out. Luckily because we homeschool it doesn’t have to come out much. I always get a real reality check whenever Sassy is in a public setting with a bunch of kids who aren’t homeschooled. The behaviors are astounding. The lack of imagination and creativity. The rigidity of their answers and patterns. I am so thankful for homeschooling and I always get that thankful feeling in instances like this.
Karen, well – if anything came out of this week for you two I’m glad it was the affirmation that homeschooling is BEST and your daughter has courage and guts! Good for her!
Hugs!
It’s awesome to hear how self-directed Keilee was!
Unfortunately, as for the bullying and mean adults…we’ve been there too many times to count. I used to LOVE teaching and being around kids…but the last few years things have changed a lot…we start summer programs at the library next week and I am dreading the K & 1 graders because there are several “mean” kids in the group.
I’ve just been catching up on all your posts over the past few weeks. I had just finished reading the post about finding Pipi and all the work Keilee put into caring for her, when I moved on to the next post and was sad to learn that she had died a week and a half later. I would have been so crushed, too. I know Keilee learned so much more than just how to take care of an animal through that experience.
Wow! What a past week you’ve had! I would be utterly exhausted, too. And it sounds like Keilee has learned so many, many things, too. I bet experiences like this also leave her feeling very, very bleseed that she is able to homeschool. I’m so impressed at the creativity and effort she puts into her self-directed learning. She already doing great things and is destined for even more greatness!