The show goes on...(smug mother moment)

Normally I would only post photos/videos that my kids agree to let me post, but this time I've had to sneak this one on. This is probably the only exception so far, and I'm only posting it because I think it is such a wonderful demonstration of what autonomous home ed can lead to. Sorry, boys. Smug Mother's perogative. [Ah well...no doubt you'll blame me for everything anyway. That's what parents are for. When you're older you can go out and get a job to pay for the therapy to repair the damage my slack parenting has caused {g}]

This little scene was planned, and 'choreographed' by ds1 and ds2. They agreed on the 'costume', the 'script', and ds1 created the music. I knew absolutely nothing about it until they showed me the finished result on ds1's little 50 quid camera that he bought from his savings. It's a one-off. Unique. And fun.

If you were to ask my kids whether they are interested in dance or drama you would get a firm 'no'. No amount of persuasion or bribery would get either of them to sign up for a drama, dance or music-related workshop (believe me, I've tried!). Yet, here they are, demonstrating so many skills. I guess sometimes the best things are created just because they are fun to do.

Hey, who needs those overrated and expensive Stage schools...?{g}

Oh, and here is one of the out-takes...

Music and Dance!

Today we went to a local annual Multicultural Festival - The Mela.

We're very lucky that we live in a multicultural area and I think it's a wonderful experience for my children to see people of different cultures and religions on a daily basis and for them not to think it is unusual. When I was growing up in a small village the only people I saw of a diffferent nationality were 2 black children from the local children's home (who came to our school) and, once a year on my Mum's birthday, I would see the staff at the Chinese take away in our nearest town! Needless to say, it was quite a culture shock to move to where we live now. I remember being very conscious that I spent the first few weeks just staring at everyone who went past, as if I'd just landed on a different planet!

Dd1 was particularly fascinated by the different music at the Mela and insisted on standing right at the front by the stage, in front of everybody. I didn't feel too self-conscious until the Bangra Hip Hop band, when I started feeling rather old and frumpy stood there at the front with lots of young Asian - and 'wannabe Asians' in their replica ethnic gear - getting into the groove (or whatever the Hip Hop equivalent is - hey, what do I know??). Anyway, there I was, this white middle class mother, stood in my cords and M&S t-shirt with a headscarf tied badly around my unwashed hair to stop it blowing around and getting in my face, a balloon on a stick that the kids had got bored of holding, and my pockets bulging full of hankies 'cause I've got a cold. Hmm...I really blended in with all those teens!

When the above was happening Dd1 kept asking 'When is it going to stop?'. It wasn't that she wasn't enjoying the music. It was more that it didn't follow the usual recognisable pattern of European music, so she just couldn't work out at what stage the song was at. I must confess that I'm usually more of a 'verse-chorus-verse-chorus' sort of girl, but it was still fascinating to watch and to listen to. I'm not sure what the instrument is called.

The dog finishes off Dd1's ice cream!

Don't let my balloon float away!