I spent countless hours working at the theatre in the past two months.

First it was construction – Matthew and I took turns taking care of the boys while doing all the work ourselves (with Carol and Craig – the co-owners and partners).  Then it was the web-site, advertising, planning of the classes, workshops, pre-production for Peter Pan and for the re-mounting of Alice in Wonderland.  It was a lot of work. There were days when I didn’t see my kids unless they came to the rehearsal or a class, or stopped by on their way from school to say hi.

Yesterday, as we sat down to dinner, I told them I would quit any time if they felt like they don’t have a mother (I do over-react and I do dramatize a bit, and perhaps this wasn’t my most brilliant parenting moment, but I meant well)  They all got teary eyed.
“But if you quit, we won’t have a theatre”, Dante said.
“And I won’t be a little brother” added Blais referring to his newly aquired part as Michael’s younger brother in Peter Pan (a part he created and added himself
“Think of all the people who bought tickets to see the shows, mama”, said Evan.

I told them I wouldn’t quit and that I was proud it meant so much to them too.

Today was the very first performance of Alice in Wonderland at our beautiful new theatre.  Dante went with me, because he was officially in the cast (as White Rabbit) and we had to be there two hours before the curtain call.

Evan and Blais showed up at one hour before and looked for their costumes.  I wasn’t really ready for them, but I had chorus parts to give them.  Evan was to be a bird and a card and Blais was a Chesire Kitten and a Card.

I played piano as the kids (mine and those I have been working with) came out and sang.  I watched them act when I wasn’t playing.  I thought how lucky they are to have this little theatre where they have a chance to explore their talents, to find the gifts within themselves and to hang out with other kids who are like them.  I thought how great for them to act in a black box theatre without big sets and impressive lights, where all the focus is on their delivery.  How empowering that must be for the little guys – for my four year Blais and for thirteen year old Abigail (Alice).

I am proud of my boys, the kids at the theatre.  I am proud of what we have accomplished with our own resources not relying on any grants, loans, bail outs.  I am so proud the hard work we put in.  And I am proud of how generous we all can be with the gifts God gave us…

Hope you come to see these kids perform.  Even if you don’t live in Clifton, or Cincinnati, it might be worth a trip

It’s evening.  11 pm already.  I cleaned up the house a bit before I go to bed.  Not because it really needed to be picked up (I am the luckiest woman living in a household with three neat little boys and an amazing husband who holds it all together and is not afraid of chores), but because I am too tired to work, and too wound up to go to sleep.

I pick up boys’ schoolwork (even Blais brings his ‘work’ home from pre-school and proudly shows me how he “finally learned how to draw a flower”) and look it over: Evan’s neat and beautiful handwriting, Dante’s 105% on a spelling test.

Earlier at the theatre we had a dress rehearsal for this weekend’s “Alice in Wonderland”.  I watched Dante scampering around playing the White Rabbit, delivering his lines with confidence; Evan picking up dance steps he had never done before, enjoying every beat; and Blais laying in the first row absorbed in the story.

My boys make me proud, happy, fulfilled, and grateful.

Today is September 16th – Dante’s ninth birthday.  I had put a small little birthday card into his lunch box, on which I wrote how rich and beautiful my life is because of him.

Two days ago, he had asked me why people make a decision to get married and have kids.

My favorite way to answer a question like that is to offer two opposite perspectives and let him make a conclusion.

So, I told him how, when I was single and very famous I had everything I wished for, I had a beautiful life.  I had the music, which made a lot of people happy, fans and amazing concerts with wonderful musicians.  And I could stay up late and sleep late in the mornings and no one would wake me up.  And my bed was big and soft and I could stretch across it and have all the covers just for myself.  I would lay there listening to the sound of the birds outside my silent bedroom.

And how when I got married and had children I still had everything I wished for.  I had the music, which made a lot of people happy, fans and amazing concerts with wonderful musicians.  And I could stay up late, except in the mornings I couldn’t sleep in, because the little boys would wake up early and ask for snuggles and kisses.  And my bed was big but crowded with little feet and little arms that would kick me all night long and pull the covers off the moment I would finally get all cozy and warm.   I would lay there listening to the laughing boys who were under the attack of Tata, the Tickling Monster.  (”Tata” is “Dad” in Croatian)

Dante looked at me and smiled: “I think I will like having children when I grow up”.

Read Tajci’s new blog entry.

http://girlsaretalking.com/?p=5

A Song and A Memory That Will Never Fade
(click here to listen to Osedlaj vjetar by Stanko Matejas)