Nativity performance disappointment

[FruHagen]

Due to COVID restrictions it was not possible to go in person to see my sons nativity play. This is the first play any of my children have been in so I was looking forward to it... instead it was filmed.

So we watched it tonight and my son who is 8 was the worst performer in the play. He seemed to be quite happy but he didn't use the microphone and held a shepherds hook in front of his face the whole time.

All the other kids were like stage school kids with strong confident performances. So I was quite upset and disappointed and blamed myself for not practicing enough with him.

Can anyone relate or care to share their own nativity dissatisfaction.

I had obviously thought it was going to be a magical experience that I would cherish forever

Over twenty years ago my DS was Joseph and when the gifts were given to baby Jesus Mary started opening them. My DS told her no and they ended up in a tug of war with the gifts. Primary school plays are priceless.

I love that @Cattenberg

I saw it the first time a couple of days ago and it really made me laugh!

Whatever you thought of his performance please praise him & tell him that he was fantastic ! He’s only 8 and this will mean the world to him.

Obviously they're important to my kids so I go and applaud and take photos and say how wonderful they were....

But to be honest I find school shows the most almighty bore . Im very jealous of the parents who seem to be having a lovely, lovely time.

I’ll offer you mine where as the donkey in foundation year I spent the entire performance twizzling my ears and picking my nose and eating it.

Additionally, I will offer you the nugget of DH’s which involved a shepherd getting angry at a crying wise man and clonking him over the head with his wooden staff involving urgent first aid.

Both events caught on video - ah the joys of the 90’s.

[quote Cattenberg]What were you saying about strong confident performances? Anyway, here’s one I really enjoyed

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ihQuiyV-lXU[/quote]
That was hilarious. I notice they didn't focus on the parents!

My daughter was an angel in reception nativity, and instead of standing angelically during a carol she crawled under a table with cloth on it, fell down the back somehow and pulled down the entire backing curtain!! All on film for the future!

I have a son who could best be described as 'bovine'.

Not by me, obviously! I think he is the most handsome, intelligent, talented child ever. However, every year in his nativity play he was given a part where he was utterly wasted 😁

He played an ox...a sheep...a cow...a donkey and a camel. One strange year, in a scene reminiscent of Love Actually he was a kangaroo (and his friend was a penguin crossing the world to meet Santa).

Nativity plays are often a bit shit. Prepare yourself for years of it.

One of my favourite Nativity scenes was a shepherd shimmying out of his authentic wool under tunic. It seemed it got itchier as the lighting heated up. It was discarded in favour of his pants with hessian outer robes, and by the time the writhing to rid himself of the offending article had finished, his jaunty tea-towel headdress was simply joyful to behold.

My oldest was the seasoned performer. My youngest always dived into the background and looked terrified.

Youngest was however also the one who deliberately chose GCSE drama to challenge herself and turned in some great performances. You never know what they'll do. They'll always find a way to amaze you, though.

magical parenting moments of teary eyed wonder.

Bwhahahaha!

No, but they are always often hilariously awful.

Ah yes. My DS, angel #3, itchy tinsel halo.

Scratch, scratch, scatch until it was hanging off one ear. Except it wasn't the tinsel, it was a bad reaction to nits.

Joy.

We’ve been practising our year 1 play all week. Let me reassure you that a crook in front of the face is nothing! We have fingers up noses, hands down pants. Gabriel having a tussle with a shepherd and more. It’s all part of the....... charm and it’s why teachers drink!

Mine dropped his prop and shouted "oh shit" in a packed school hall. Mortified wasn't the word.

Kids are all different. They excel in different areas. Some of them absolutely hate being on centre stage and don't want to learn. I think as long as you've given a reasonable amount of encouragement it's fine to just let him live his life as someone who doesn't really want to be the star of a play.

I would probably cover my face with a shepherds hook if I had to go on stage. I am a competent adult so I wouldn't say it's held me back.

Mine always looked they would prefer to be doing algebra. They at least never appeared to have persistently itchy arses or a finger glued up one nose, nor did they wet themselves so we’re ahead of some performers. It’s a brilliantly bonkers thing that probably can be traced as the start of many a teacher’s hard drinking.

My favourite is the bossy kid telling off others or hissing at people where to stand and what to say.

i saved this tread specifically for a good seasonal laugh
@FruHagen
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3770551-Today-DD-passed-the-Baby-Jesus-to-Mary-like-a-world-class-scrum-half

These are so funny. I'm crying with laughter. Suppose it wasn't that big a deal, and we're not all cut out for the stage.

OP please don't see your son's shyness and inability to perform as the star of a school natitivity as a negative trait. He had fun and all you can focus on is criticising him?

Absolutely normal; another veteran of school Nativity plays here. I had a Mary who went into labour and produced baby Jesus from the neck of her robes, while the shepherds were clambering up the piano. In another year, one member of the 'choir' who sat in the middle - so unreachable - had his thumbs in his red braces for their performance, twanging them against his chest. The audience lost it when he hoicked one side over his head!

The problem isnt his performance but your expectations.

He is a kid, not a performing seal! I get teary at every single performance no matter how they do, because I am their mother and I am proud of them.

Your post has really saddened me that instead of just being proud of him you have compared him to other kids and found him wanting.

Christ,school plays are fucking torture. I wear ipods and no one can see them
Zone it out and look up occasionally
Leave all the histrionics to the PTA cabal,as they’re convinced this will demonstrate to everyone how gifted their cherub is

Ds1 reception they sat him next to the piano from the back row I could see his hand inching its way up to the keys... there was tutting.

Yr1 he was a pig bought a onesie.... no staff member checked he has clothes on underneath... he s l o w l y lowered the zipper on center stage

Yr2 all children filed in nicely...except ds he slowed down until there was a gap then ran and skidded on his knees across the highly polished floor

Since then he's done much back stage work at plays.. he's secondary now and fancies the drama club

My best friends daughter was lined up to do her nativity in her costume when they were sent home to isolate. Third time this term. Last ever nativity in primary (yr 1). And won't be returning to school this term so out of time. Mum collected her and sobbed all afternoon as she had so looked forward to doing her play and mummy watching it online.

Doesn't solve your problem but sometimes the bigger picture is helpful.

These plays are always adorably shit IMO.