'Why isn't my child Mary' syndrome

[Pud2]

AIBU to get irritated by parents who complain to the school when their DC doesn't get a good part in a production?

"There's no closed season on bearing a grudge. "

True enough I'm more amused I'd forgotten it was July.

Ffs Christmas shopping and who comes to Christmas dinner threads next!

Fwiw mine were Mary, Joseph, Angel Gabrielle and the inn keeper. Ha ha ha.

I think mine was the worst at school

I was a grain of sand (!)

DD1 has so far been an angel, narrater and a doll

DD2 starts this year so i will watch with interest as she is far more....overbearing.....in personality

A friend of mine was the anus. Her line was 'I am the anus and I get rid of waste'

Classic.

"I bid you enter' -

I was Mary in a school play and I wasn't blonde (I had very long brown hair)

I remember feeling like a right twat sitting there rocking a doll and trying to look angelic.

At primary school, all I wanted was to be an angel in the Nativity Play. I even grew my hair long for two year in the hope I'd be chosen. Didn't even have to be Gabriel, just any old angel would do.

They asked me to wear my smart school uniform and read a poem at the beginning of the play. A huge speaking role and a great honour |(allegedly).

I however, am damaged for life! (Ok maybe a slight exaggeration!)

Im blonde haired, blue eyed and also did Mary various times and other lead roles.

When my youngest child was 3 and at nursery there was a mother who had a daughter the same age.
When nursery put on little shows,nativity etc the main parts were given to the children who were older and leaving soon to start school.
Anyway this mother whinged and moaned about her daughter not getting the part of Mary because she would have been much better than the older child.She would also come out with things like when my child starts school she will be top of the class and I will ask for extra homework etc etc.
The little girl was lovely but I was relieved when the family moved away and that meant the competitive parent wouldn't have a child in the same class as my son.

I was a grain of sand

I don't know whether I feel sorrier for you or your poor mum having to come up with the costume.

Well. There is only 1 Mary part and 1 Joseph part.
But yes it is not very fair [and I am speaking as a family who got those parts]
I think it is partly to do with having the parts in a safe pair of hands. I did used to wonder how productions would have panned out in a non safe pair of hands.
I dont think it would have been too bad, but I did sometimes wonder whether if I was the Head, I would have been tempted to do the same thing.
Less sleepless nights that way.

Frames I get to sit on the front row as a parent governor too. I spend HOURS in governors' meetings throughout the year. It's the only perk! And no my DC don't get the big parts either!

Google the words Japan monster parents Snow White and you will find a hilariously ridiculous solution.

Some teachers pick the confident speakers and it's all very predictable. IMO the best teachers give the quieter, less in your face children a chance to shine. So what if it goes wrong, that's all part of the charm.

My dd is very quiet, she has Aspergers and is often left out of stuff and I used to get very defensive and protective. She was always in a small group holding up a sign or something.

I'd had enough one year and went in to ask why she never, ever got a proper part. The reason was, dd didn't want one!

The reason was, dd didn't want one! blush

I discovered that once too!
Often the parents are much more interested than the children.
Or you find that the teacher asked the children who wanted a certain part to put their hand up. And only a few did.

I was a sheep, then the narrator when very small (being the only one who could read). Then I was Mary two years running. Sadly Joseph was a boy I hated.

The only blond girl was always always the angel.

I've worked in classes with no blonds at all. I'm pleased to say the selection process was much fairer.

My dd (brunette) was Mary, my DS was the narrator.

I'm not on the PTA.

As the nativity started my DH leaned over and whispered 'I bet all the other parents hate us'

Politely

I hate to get all serious on a fun thread but I do get a bit pissed off with the stereotypical blondes are angels stuff. Maybe I'm over sensitive because my dd is mixed race with dark hair and eyes, I don't know?

Dd was an angel in preschool. She got a bit bossy with the shepherds. Firmly shoved one in front in front of Mary and said in her firmest little voice 'you stay there and don't move'.

You know you are on MN when someone says that the main part goes to the DC of the chair of PTA!

In ds's play last year the children were asked what they wanted to be, and it was drawn out of a hat in front of them. The most competition among the boys was the part of the donkey, and all the girls wanted to be angels or narrators. Mary and Joseph were not particularly favoured parts.

Dd1 tended to get parts, that's because she speaks loudly, clearly, has a lovely singing voice, but more importantly she will only need to be told once any direction and she will remember it, and will always be there knowing her lines (and everyone elses too). Dd2 whose acting is probably better never gets any parts because she's not as reliable.

The only parent I used to know that went in and complained regularly was somewhat deluded as to her child's ability. When she did have lines she delivered it at speed to her shoes, and I don't think particularly enjoyed it.

My DD3 got to be Mary just by being bolshy in the right place at the right time.

A girl was given the part and promptly burst into tears, so the story goes, because she wanted to be an angel. DD3 said 'I'll do that thing, whatever it is.' The problem was that the girl was in the other class and DD3's class was providing the Joseph. The teachers were debating the situation when DD3 approached them again and said 'I'll do that thing....whatever it is!'.

They decided she'd earned it

She had a ball. Sang a solo of Rock-a-bye-Jesus. All the children had great parts - they all had a chance to shine. They all sang, danced and paraded around the stage at different points.

ahahah at "safe pair of hands!" It's the infant nativity not a Prime Time BBC spythriller sitcom :o :o

Mother of Mary twice, Innkeeper and Head King. ;)

I was narrator in my nativity.

The role of Mary went to a girl from a Jewish family (she was the best in the auditions by far), and the school's Pushy Mum was furious ("the nativity is CHRISTIAN), not realizing it was accurate casting!