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AIBU?

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Original poster

6 year old is sad to only have 2 words to say in nativity

111 replies

Crowandrow · 04/12/2025 22:02

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to ask a question.
My six year old son is very sad to only have 2 words to say in the nativity. He says that everyone else has lots of words and are in more than one scene. He is in one scene.

He doesn't usually get upset by things but keeps mentioning how upset by this he is. He is also quite honest and tells me what is going on (telling me if he got in trouble etc) so I believe him.
he is also really sad that he has never got a certificate at all. He said quite sadly to me: I've shown perseverance! Why haven't I got one like everyone else?

WIBU to raise it with the teacher?something along the lines of: my son is a bit sad that he's got such a small part/ hasn't got a certificate unlike everyone else. I don't want to overstep, annoy the teacher or make things difficult for my son though. How should I approach it?
thank you.

OP posts:
caffelattetogo · 05/12/2025 09:55

My nephew was an innkeeper one year with two words “NO ROOM” but he really made the most of it! We spent the run up telling him it was the best part and by the end he loved it!

FracasFracas · 05/12/2025 09:58

Hyperion100 · 05/12/2025 09:47

Just tell him to adlib a monologue.

Nobody is going to stop him.

Excellent idea. Or just go to centre stage and do a party trick, like that child in Nativity the film whose trick was holding his breath and making his face go scarlet.

Or invent a new character. A Angel who decides to be Mary’s doula as a side hustle, Joseph’s concerned best friend, the nosy neighbour who dropped by to see what’s going on in the stable?

MincePudding · 05/12/2025 10:09

I was going to write a balanced post about thinking about the problem and how to address it but from what I've read, the problem appears to me to be that your son doesn't seem to have much confidence.

He seems to be seeking validation through certificates and recognition through what part he has in a play.

I wonder of the teacher has opted to give him a smaller part because he appears to lack confidence and thinks they are taking the pressure off him?

So I think I'd make a point of underlining resilience and things not being about him (so saying things like it doesn't matter what part you have, what matters is doing your best because you'll make the best sheep/star because you speak so clearly and smile so nicely. Or saying stuff like "can you tell me something X in your class is good at? What about Y? And what about you? See, lots of people can be good at lots of things and don't get certificates for it. You can know you're very good at lots of things without getting a certificate for them")

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 13:16

ItsameLuigi · 05/12/2025 09:41

When I was younger I was a reindeer. My mum didn't want to buy me a costume so I dressed up in my Scooby Doo outfit 😂😂

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That's hilarious!

ldnmusic87 · 05/12/2025 13:17

Usually every kid has a line or two, what he says is very unusual.

ThatHappyBlueCritic · 05/12/2025 13:22

My daughter complained as she is a narrator and wanted to be Mary as she has too many lines according to her! I know her teacher socially and laughingly told her about my daughters bitching and made her laugh. I think the kids are never happy with their roles!

Beserkering · 05/12/2025 13:24

I’d encourage him to ad lib. He had two lines but he can surely expand on them? What about if he ad libs a soliquay? Maybe breaks the fourth wall and starts talking direct to the audience - you know, make the whole thing a bit meta and post-modern.

ItsameLuigi · 05/12/2025 13:32

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 13:16

That's hilarious!

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I really wish I still have the VHS of it! No lines but I got to be Scooby Doo and I don't think I've ever felt more confident 😂

ItsameLuigi · 05/12/2025 13:33

Beserkering · 05/12/2025 13:24

I’d encourage him to ad lib. He had two lines but he can surely expand on them? What about if he ad libs a soliquay? Maybe breaks the fourth wall and starts talking direct to the audience - you know, make the whole thing a bit meta and post-modern.

I miss the laughing reaction

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 13:54

ItsameLuigi · 05/12/2025 13:32

I really wish I still have the VHS of it! No lines but I got to be Scooby Doo and I don't think I've ever felt more confident 😂

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The power of a costume!

To be fair, Scooby is at least as good an approximation for a reindeer as a lot of nativity costumes. It was good thinking on your part!

ShodAndShadySenators · 06/12/2025 13:23

In a way it's better that he only has two words, he'll be able to focus on delivering his line in the most convincing and humorous way - he could really ham it up. Then once it's over, he can relax and enjoy the rest of the production. It's almost mandatory for school nativities/pantos that you have children that are disappointed with their role, those that are happy with theirs and those who didn't get one but are helping in other ways. It can't be helped, you'll never get 100% satisfied kids, someone will always be unhappy with their lot. Your son won't be the only one.

The certificates, if they are handed out on merit, I would definitely let the teacher know he's feeling deflated and demotivated. Our school did Star of The Week which every child got a turn at (there were two, boy and girl, and they got to do things like take the register to the office). Other certificates were given for merit like "has shown great progress" and "has been a super friend" and I'm sure they found a reason to give one out to every child.

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