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Original poster

There's Something About Being Mary...

28 replies

enid · 24/11/2004 13:12

dd1 has been chosen by a)our local church and b)her school to be Mary in the Nativity play. That's two Mary gigs in the same week - I would have killed to be in a similar situation! Anyway, dd1 is hysterically upset and crying and saying she doesn't want to do it. Honestly I've never seen her in this much of a state. She seems really petrified. My first instinct was to tell the school that she didn't want to do it, but her teacher says just to leave it and she'll come round. Dh also says I am being over-protective and that it will be good for her! What do you think? She's almost 5 btw.

OP posts:
Tissy · 24/11/2004 13:16

I'm surprised she was chosen if she told them she didn't want to do it.How did they choose? She has plenty of time to come round to the idea, but it might be an idea to make sure that both plays have an understudy, just in case! What exactly is she worried about?

Mum2girls · 24/11/2004 13:16

My DD had to step in and take over last year from a little girl who reacted just as your DD did.

My reaction would be like yours..but I think I would take the teachers advice and let her try the role out if she wants to - although I'd make it clear to DD that no-one will make her do if she doesn't want to.

Marina · 24/11/2004 13:18

Well I can sympathise utterly if she has two different sets of basic stage directions and lines to remember! Not to mention two different Josephs to act with
Is her upset due to having to do both I wonder?
I hope the huge advantage of having to rustle up one costume not two is not influencing you in any way shape or form here Enid

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Original poster
enid · 24/11/2004 13:23

well it irritates me a bit actually. She is quite shy and self-conscious and...I am not. I always find these things quite difficult to cope with whereas a more sensitive () mum might not. I'll try to get to the bottom of it...

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motherinferior · 24/11/2004 13:24

At least she knows who she's going to be. My dd1 has informed me that in her end of term Cinderella she is to be 'Cinderella, an ugly sister, a ball-dancer AND a horsie'.

Original poster
enid · 24/11/2004 13:25
Grin
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bovary · 24/11/2004 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Marina · 24/11/2004 13:48

Could she have also been on the receiving end of teeny sulks from other thwarted Marys? People who are horsies and not happy about it?
I am not good at dealing with shyness in ds either. Find myself nagging him sometimes to answer Mrs X politely etc

Bozza · 24/11/2004 13:50

Do you think the teacher is right and that she will come round? How does DD1 get on with the teacher?

LOL MI - I had some trouble ascertaining DS's role. Turns out he is the donkey. He's quite happy with this and being kitted up with furry ears etc but DH is rather upset He seems to think that nursery are casting aspersions on the character of his first-born by casting him as a donkey. Can't help being rather amused at DH's attitude.

Original poster
enid · 24/11/2004 13:58

The teachers find it hilarious and her teacher thought she might be worried about coming home and telling me she was pregnant - ha ha ha very funny - not.

Anyway, dd1 loves school and idolises her teacher so we'll see.

OP posts:
Original poster
enid · 24/11/2004 13:59

Tissy, they chose her because they think she is so graceful and serious looking [proud]

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motherinferior · 24/11/2004 14:14

Oh well, that gets my two off the Mary hook . Gorgeous yes, serious no. In fact dd1 has started calling dd2 Hanuman, which gives me forebodings for any future Diwali plays in our neck of the multicultural woods.

SantaFio2 · 24/11/2004 14:17

my dd was mary when she was 3 and they dont have to anything, just sit pretty. tell her that poor thing, being so upset

Marina · 24/11/2004 14:22

So you should be Enid . IMO Mary is always chosen for a combination of good looks and ability to stand still, not pick nose etc, as directed.
We're proud too - heard yesterday that ds is one of only three little guys in his year with a speaking role in the joint Yr1-Yr2 nativity. Costume spec is a bit of a nightmare

lyndap · 24/11/2004 15:41

This made me smile.
My wee sis was picked to be the angel in her nativity but threw a strop on the day. The nursery nurses had to re-arrange things at short notice and so another wee girl was the angel and my sister crawled on to the stage amongst the flock of sheep. The only difference was that their costumes were white and hers was black.....

bundle · 24/11/2004 15:45

enid, i would have chucked baby jesus out of the crib if i could have been mary when i was at school. i was typecast, as angel gabriel 2 years running...

mishmish · 24/11/2004 15:49

Hi enid, bless her, I hope she decides to do one of them. There's an old story about a little boy who wanted to be Joseph but was cast as the innkeeper and when M&J turned up at his Inn he said, "come in, there's LOTS of room".

wilbur · 24/11/2004 15:51

Enid, I reckon you should just encourage her gently, but if she is really petrified, then let her back out. Many 5 yr olds are fabulous show-offs, but if she's not one of them then that's fine (at least you won't have to sit thru all those endless "fashion shows" or whatever).

Just got back from ds's nativity play - he was a minor angel who, along with another of the Heavenly Host, had to hand over baby Jesus to Mary. They dropped baby Jesus on his head, and then ds fell off the bench they were all standing on, was nimbly caught by the teacher, and then rammed his halo over his eyes so that he couldn't see. He got a big laugh though.

Bozza - my dh was perturbed to find that ds was the only boy angel out of about 8....

Bozza · 24/11/2004 15:51

She sounds lovely Enid.

All this talk of costumes is a bit scary though. Beginning to be quite grateful that DS is the donkey - they've told me to send him in brown trousers and top. He's got some brown cords but no plain brown jumpers - so may have to stretch to a £2 fleece from Asda.

Bozza · 24/11/2004 15:52

DHs eh, Wilbur.

motherinferior · 24/11/2004 16:18

The only costume information dd1 has divulged about Cinderella is that they're making horsie masks. And mousie masks. She did give me a rambling account of being taken somewhere for a Fitting, but I think that was her somewhat hallucinogenic imagination again.

I do hope she's at least one Mary, Enid. How lovely for you. Have you bulk-bought tissues in readiness?

Original poster
enid · 24/11/2004 16:34

these are all hilarious

I am massively proud and obviously desperate for her to do at least one - pref the school one, more kudos but I shall hide it deep down inside and attempt to be cool

OP posts:
JanH · 24/11/2004 16:48

wilbur, DD2 was Mary in Reception and on the way up the stairs on to the stage managed to drop baby Jesus on his head without any angelic assistance. (And when she was a bit older she dropped baby DS2 on the stairs at the dentist...)

enid, has she actually said why she's so upset?

motherinferior · 24/11/2004 19:22

DD1 has now divulged she is the Fairy Godmother. Clearly a very demanding role, I have decided.

bundle · 24/11/2004 19:23

gosh. have you seen shrek 2? she has an interesting role...