Signs of insanity...
Listening to an accompaniment track for five hours straight is a little much. I'm fairly sure this is can be considered a sign of insanity. I feel like I'm going insane. On the positive side I don't think I will ever miss coming in after the first ending again. :))
Ryann and I had our first "practice" with Phil on Monday night. It was intense. The mics hadn't been brought back over from the gym yet and we were singing on the lines set up for the choir. Phil couldn't manage to get the right accompaniment to voice blend. And I forgot to come in on the second verse. Then Ryann announced in her mic that she had to go pee. I don't know why I was surprised by that.
Kim was sitting in the sanctuary listening to us and said we sounded good. Phil seemed pleased, only saying "practice some more". Ryann was jumping around like a little monkey. I couldn't exactly hear anything. Except the accompaniment track. Which sounded... off. I think I've managed to fix that now.
Kim has been having Ryann practice on track 4, which is a low voice range. This is fine for Kim, but Ryann and I are both, without a doubt, sopranos. Track 3 is better suited for us. Why I didn't think to check this out.... *shakes head* Sometimes doing the obvious is the last thing on my list.
There is caroling tonight. *happies* Kim has somehow managed to invite Ryann along with the adult choir. *nervous* I don't think Phil will care at all who comes as he's always eager for voices. Yet this is Ryann, who has proved in the past three-four weeks that she's the Queen of Spoiled and has no manners. I only worry because I doubt Kim will come, she's most likely going to drop Ryann off knowing I can't help but keep an eye on her. Even when Kim's around I tend to "mother" her. And this is turning into a Ryann Rant.
I've said it before, many times. Ryann is an only child, one of the two youngest grandchildren and looked upon as a little sister by my brother and me. My entire family had a hand in spoiling her beyond reason. The blame lies with us all. We love the little girl to death, but she's driving us all insane.
She's hateful to the youngest grandchild, Tyffany. She's rude to my grandparents. The latest event was a full-fledged fit because she didn't want to give up the front seat to my grandmother. She's quick to apologize when you tell her she's behaving inappropriately, but sometimes 'sorry' just doesn't cut it. There are times I just want to beat the snot out of her. I want to treat her like she's treating everyone else, just so she knows what it feels like. But this is not the way to teach or instill any sort of values in her.
I'm at a complete loss as to how to teach her, and I know that it isn't even my place or my job to do so. However if left up to Kim and Leslie she'll either be allowed to continue getting by with murder and walking all over people or she'll be beat to death. I've been involved so much in her life since she was born, it wouldn't be very responsible to just step out now. Not when she really needs to learn.
Part of this is low self-esteem. Now this I have not a clue how to deal with. My brother and I were always very secure with who we were and doing what we wanted. Jon did have a time when things weren't as clear, but I wouldn't say that his self-esteem was destroyed or anything of the sort. It was a low point but all it took was remembering what he wanted. Ryann... I've no clue how to even approach boosting her self-esteem. And without inflating her already enormous head.
Ah, me. Ryann, the world's best birth control.
On to brighter things. I hope. The Children's Very Merry Christmas Program was Sunday night. I have never been so thankful for a weekend to be over.
Saturday was a mess. A giant, busy, confusing, terrifying, panic-creating mess. Phil was at the church at 9am wrapping boxes to be used as the backdrop. The rest of us arrived around noon. Kim was nice enough to run by and get me. I'd stayed up until the wee small hours of Saturday morning finishing up the flags (and still not getting them attached to the poles!) and was grateful for the ride and the yummy sandwich she brought me. This sandwich would be the only meal I had all day.
We arrived at the church - Kim, Ryann, me... and Ryann's friend Ashley who had spent the night with Ryann and Kim decided to let tag along. Big mistake. We tried to tell Kim this, but Kim either can't or refuses to see potential problems. Phil needed help carrying the boxes from the choir room to the gym. I sent Ryann and Ashley - and all the other kids - to help him. >:) While they 'dressed' the stage I sat in a corner with flag poles, packing tape and needle and thread. The flags were attached. I let the kids play with them. The flags didn't fall off. Go me.
Then came time to rehearse. We ran through the entire production. It was a gruesome three hours. Lines were learned. Places were found. Sets fell down. Ashley whined. Somehow we managed to finish half an hour ahead of schedule. Phil dismissed the kids, his only instruction being to stay in the gym.
I gather the four flags (Parker, Elise, Emily and Cheyenne) and went through the routine with them. Elise and Emily complained that they knew the routine. I made them show me. They knew it so I let them off the hook. Suddenly all the kids want to learn the flag routine. Being unable to say no I let them take turns and taught the entire choir the flag routine. At some point I notice Cheyenne leaving the gym.
Apparently Ashley, wonderful Ashley that Kim said would be no problem, had left the gym and all the others went to fetch her back. Cheyenne was going after her little sister, Sierra. I went with Cheyenne, found her sister, found Deanna sitting on the ground where she'd injured herself, found Ryann and Dustin - who were terrified and babbling that Ashley had hurt herself and needed help. I told the ones I'd found to head back to the gym, tell those they met along they way to go back to the gym as well, and that any that I found when I started back to the gym were going to be in a world of trouble.
Needless to say they left - except Ryann, who was crying that Ashley was having as asthma attack and needed help. Funny though, Ashley wasn't where they'd left her and we couldn't find her anywhere. Turns out she'd faked her asthma attack (she really does have asthma) and hidden when everyone left to get help. There was crying and hurt and all the normal kid drama. Everyone went back to the gym. Parents came for their children and I went home.
Sunday I was at church from 8am until after noon. Then it was back at 4:30 for one final run through and the show. The kids did wonderful and I am so proud of my flags.
And that was my weekend. I spent Monday at home with the worst migraine I've had in ages. The kids did well, but were a trial. Ryann is causing intense stress. Singing - while normally stress-relief - is becoming stressful in other ways.
Ryann and I had our first "practice" with Phil on Monday night. It was intense. The mics hadn't been brought back over from the gym yet and we were singing on the lines set up for the choir. Phil couldn't manage to get the right accompaniment to voice blend. And I forgot to come in on the second verse. Then Ryann announced in her mic that she had to go pee. I don't know why I was surprised by that.
Kim was sitting in the sanctuary listening to us and said we sounded good. Phil seemed pleased, only saying "practice some more". Ryann was jumping around like a little monkey. I couldn't exactly hear anything. Except the accompaniment track. Which sounded... off. I think I've managed to fix that now.
Kim has been having Ryann practice on track 4, which is a low voice range. This is fine for Kim, but Ryann and I are both, without a doubt, sopranos. Track 3 is better suited for us. Why I didn't think to check this out.... *shakes head* Sometimes doing the obvious is the last thing on my list.
There is caroling tonight. *happies* Kim has somehow managed to invite Ryann along with the adult choir. *nervous* I don't think Phil will care at all who comes as he's always eager for voices. Yet this is Ryann, who has proved in the past three-four weeks that she's the Queen of Spoiled and has no manners. I only worry because I doubt Kim will come, she's most likely going to drop Ryann off knowing I can't help but keep an eye on her. Even when Kim's around I tend to "mother" her. And this is turning into a Ryann Rant.
I've said it before, many times. Ryann is an only child, one of the two youngest grandchildren and looked upon as a little sister by my brother and me. My entire family had a hand in spoiling her beyond reason. The blame lies with us all. We love the little girl to death, but she's driving us all insane.
She's hateful to the youngest grandchild, Tyffany. She's rude to my grandparents. The latest event was a full-fledged fit because she didn't want to give up the front seat to my grandmother. She's quick to apologize when you tell her she's behaving inappropriately, but sometimes 'sorry' just doesn't cut it. There are times I just want to beat the snot out of her. I want to treat her like she's treating everyone else, just so she knows what it feels like. But this is not the way to teach or instill any sort of values in her.
I'm at a complete loss as to how to teach her, and I know that it isn't even my place or my job to do so. However if left up to Kim and Leslie she'll either be allowed to continue getting by with murder and walking all over people or she'll be beat to death. I've been involved so much in her life since she was born, it wouldn't be very responsible to just step out now. Not when she really needs to learn.
Part of this is low self-esteem. Now this I have not a clue how to deal with. My brother and I were always very secure with who we were and doing what we wanted. Jon did have a time when things weren't as clear, but I wouldn't say that his self-esteem was destroyed or anything of the sort. It was a low point but all it took was remembering what he wanted. Ryann... I've no clue how to even approach boosting her self-esteem. And without inflating her already enormous head.
Ah, me. Ryann, the world's best birth control.
On to brighter things. I hope. The Children's Very Merry Christmas Program was Sunday night. I have never been so thankful for a weekend to be over.
Saturday was a mess. A giant, busy, confusing, terrifying, panic-creating mess. Phil was at the church at 9am wrapping boxes to be used as the backdrop. The rest of us arrived around noon. Kim was nice enough to run by and get me. I'd stayed up until the wee small hours of Saturday morning finishing up the flags (and still not getting them attached to the poles!) and was grateful for the ride and the yummy sandwich she brought me. This sandwich would be the only meal I had all day.
We arrived at the church - Kim, Ryann, me... and Ryann's friend Ashley who had spent the night with Ryann and Kim decided to let tag along. Big mistake. We tried to tell Kim this, but Kim either can't or refuses to see potential problems. Phil needed help carrying the boxes from the choir room to the gym. I sent Ryann and Ashley - and all the other kids - to help him. >:) While they 'dressed' the stage I sat in a corner with flag poles, packing tape and needle and thread. The flags were attached. I let the kids play with them. The flags didn't fall off. Go me.
Then came time to rehearse. We ran through the entire production. It was a gruesome three hours. Lines were learned. Places were found. Sets fell down. Ashley whined. Somehow we managed to finish half an hour ahead of schedule. Phil dismissed the kids, his only instruction being to stay in the gym.
I gather the four flags (Parker, Elise, Emily and Cheyenne) and went through the routine with them. Elise and Emily complained that they knew the routine. I made them show me. They knew it so I let them off the hook. Suddenly all the kids want to learn the flag routine. Being unable to say no I let them take turns and taught the entire choir the flag routine. At some point I notice Cheyenne leaving the gym.
Apparently Ashley, wonderful Ashley that Kim said would be no problem, had left the gym and all the others went to fetch her back. Cheyenne was going after her little sister, Sierra. I went with Cheyenne, found her sister, found Deanna sitting on the ground where she'd injured herself, found Ryann and Dustin - who were terrified and babbling that Ashley had hurt herself and needed help. I told the ones I'd found to head back to the gym, tell those they met along they way to go back to the gym as well, and that any that I found when I started back to the gym were going to be in a world of trouble.
Needless to say they left - except Ryann, who was crying that Ashley was having as asthma attack and needed help. Funny though, Ashley wasn't where they'd left her and we couldn't find her anywhere. Turns out she'd faked her asthma attack (she really does have asthma) and hidden when everyone left to get help. There was crying and hurt and all the normal kid drama. Everyone went back to the gym. Parents came for their children and I went home.
Sunday I was at church from 8am until after noon. Then it was back at 4:30 for one final run through and the show. The kids did wonderful and I am so proud of my flags.
And that was my weekend. I spent Monday at home with the worst migraine I've had in ages. The kids did well, but were a trial. Ryann is causing intense stress. Singing - while normally stress-relief - is becoming stressful in other ways.