@artskids - perhaps you should get in contact with the parent in question to discuss the issue. After all, no good ever came from bottled up resentment
^^^My D asked to take care of it herself. I reluctantly turned my car around. I was on my way to take care of it. I also would have been willing to discuss a genuine question or concern about her journey had I been asked.
So sorry, @artskids, though I think you are right to let your daughter handle it. She will be so ready for a larger stage, won’t she? None of this will matter in the slightest in six months or any time after, so hang in there.
There is no real way to “take care of it.” I’m guessing the parent will vehemently deny it if confronted!
This just popped up in my FB feed and I thought it was relevant
http://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2015/12/27/the-worst-people-youll-meet-in-theatre
Personal peeve of mine are what the article calls “prado” (fake) friends- people (kids or parents) who totally love you as long as you are of use to them, then forget your name…
@artskids I would move on and let those people go away. They weren’t on your journey. Enjoy your child’s accomplishments.
@artskids , I wouldn’t have approached them with this, either. First, they’d probably deny it. Second, if they didn’t deny it, it could blow up more, and who has time for energy for that? Third, it will blow over, and it won’t matter to you or your D in time. Fourth, these people are obviously not friends, so, again, who has time and energy for playing into this?
Some years ago, some parents at a gym you and I both know well starting making snide comments about one of our D’s and, sometimes, us, and just acting weird in general. It bothered H and me, but we didn’t say a word or act like we knew. The owners/coaches noticed, pulled us into their office and started singing, “Jealousy, jealousy…” They talked to us for a bit about how it is just insecurity and jealousy on the other parents’ part, and we were doing the right thing by just continuing to be nice to people while keeping our guard up and trying to brush it all off. I’m glad they took the time to talk to us and reinforce what we were doing; the ramifications if we would have confronted anyone or tried discussing it with anyone would’ve been uglier for everyone than just letting it go. Now, I honestly don’t even remember what the people said or did or even really who did it. It doesn’t matter to me even though it hurt and angered me and made me uncomfortable then.
Like the parents in that situation, this person is obviously someone who is insecure and jealous of your D’s great success. That’s sad, but it’s not your problem–or your D’s. Stick to the ones who genuinely celebrate with you both–like us!
I was curious what kids who have just graduated are doing with their summers theater-wise. Do you do one more round of camps/youth shows? Work to save some spending $$ for college? Start thinking about additional training programs? Just wondering - thanks!!
Working over here.
Last year of camp!
I remember the last year of Stagedoor for our S @stagedoormama! I think it was harder than his senior graduation :-). My second D is heading there this summer. Is it weird that I’ve missed it? D1 (college bound in the fall) will be working this summer so she’ll have some “walking around money” at school The nickel and dime stuff REALLY added up S’s freshman year!
My D is stage managing one show and working.
@artskids It will for sure be harder than senior graduation! She has been going there so long! I think we will all be a mess.
My daughter will be helping run a 2-week teen theatre intensive. Sort of a combination assistant director/theatre camp counselor. She’ll also be performing in a production of “Into the Woods.” That’s enough for this summer. 