July 2010, I took my 12 year old son and my oldest daughter (for her 15th birthday present) to see Train and John Mayer.
It was my son's first concert...my daughter's second.
(I took her to see The Jonas Brothers/Demi Lavatto a few years back...I know! The things we endure for our kids, right?)
The show was at an outdoor amphitheatre.
Of course, it had not rained here in central North Carolina in, oh, say, 45 days---and it POURED that day!!!
My daughter hijacked my uber cool North Face jacket, and I wore the 'nerdy mom raincoat'---again, sacrificing my evaporating 'coolness' so my girl would feel good.
When we first got to the concert venue,of course there was a huge mass of people...my girl stuck close by as we navigated the long lines to get in.
Once we cleared the gates, she was walking quickly ahead of me by a good six paces...occasionally looking back---a juxtaposition of teenage 'independence' and her fear of being 'abducted'.
(yes, I am one of the moms that tells her kids to stick close to me in crowds 'because someone could steal you and I'll never see you again'...so far, I have not lost any of my three kids!)
My son always sticks close to me, so, he was not a worry.
He was, however, embarrassed that I took off my flipflops and was walking barefoot in the wet grass...'MOM! Put your shoes back on!'...I explained to him it was no big deal---and would he rather me wipe out walking down the hill? (haha!)...plus, the grass felt really good on my feet.
It was a warm summer rain as we rocked out to Train...one of the hazards of 'lawn seats' I'm afraid...we were soaked!
My son and I enjoyed 'people watching'....
...and as with everything, it turned in to a 'learning experience' the later it got, and the more 'happy' the people around us got...
Nothing like some sloppy drunk girl hanging off her boyfriend and pawing at his crotch to start a conversation about 'how NOT to act at a concert'...geez.
(My 15 year old and her friends were giggling and their eyes were as big as saucers...I was embarrassed for the drunk/pawing girl...she looked like an idiot.)
Once it got dark, John Mayer started playing...and suddenly, the air was quite 'fragrant'...
(again, another 'learning experience' that I was glad to be there to explain...!!!)
I am open and honest with my kids, and like to address things head on...so, we covered 'PDA' and 'over indulgence' issues. (check that off the 'awkward things I need to talk to my kids about' list!)
BOTH my kids were absolutely HORR-I-FIED that I was actually dancing to the music...and 'OMG'---SINGING!
My son was just irritated, and my daughter kept looking back at me (from 10 yrds. away) giving me the 'stink eye', eye roll and mouthing the word 'STOP!'...She's got talent, yes, she does...to be able to do all THREE at ONCE! (I'm so proud.)
It almost became a game of 'freeze dance' because I would stop every time she turned around...haha! Seriously, I wish my kids would not feel so 'boxed in'...and just let go and dance! (I mean, no one could look as idiotic as 'drunk/pawing girl'!)
...and I was not doing freaky hippy stuff, ending with 'jazz hands' like the dude beside me...(now, THAT was embarrassing!)
All in all, we had a really good time, and laughed a LOT---which is the point! I am hoping my kids enjoyed the concert---and the free 'public education'...haha!
'Life is not about waiting
for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to Dance in the Rain!'
