corny post, awesome at everything

here are some plugs for my kids' school:

next weekend will be the big school fundraiser. it is not dog fest or gran pachanga, but still, a nice little event with a bluegrass prodigy and lots of goodies up for auction. come by if you can and make a bid on something...last year i bought one raffle ticket and won $500! yes! here's the info.

you are also invited to the annual stage write performance of plays written by 5th graders and performed by awesome adult actors with a live band playing songs with lyrics the kids have written. it's at the brava theater this year. you'll laugh, you'll cry, at least one of each, i promise. more info. and my son drew the bubble gum machine man which is featured on the poster. (i'll have to put that on here later, i'm very proud).

which leads me to the title of this post. over the past few years my son has changed from an anxious kid who was worried about trying new things and going places without me to a pretty confident person. these past few weeks have been good ones for him. he played some great soccer, had his artwork chosen for the stage write poster, and won two blue ribbons at the mac can do track meet (which was held on 4/20 from 4-6 in kezar stadium in gg park right near hippie hill --parking was not easy but it was a very mellow crowd). he also started a writing class at 826 valencia and i noticed he was having a pretty good time hamming it up and even arm-wrestling a very cute girl (she beat him). when he showed me his blue ribbons from the track meet he said "awesome at everything" about himself with a huge smile.

part of me wanted to reel him in and remind him he has to work hard, don't get a big head, etc etc but part of me is just so proud. and grateful to the programs that are supporting him...the school which has drama and sports, the parent friends who have worked so hard to make soccer happen, the pirate store tutoring center full of eager young volunteers, the tenderloin track club. my kid is benefiting from some wonderful programs set up to help kids who really need it gain confidence and skills. he is very lucky. and it is inspiring to see all these programs in action, which is nice when things seem so dire with budget cuts and wierd societal priorities. if my kids were being raised solely by their parents i do believe they would be neurotic wrecks so i am glad they do not have to depend on us for everything. i hope things keep on the way they have for my kids, so they can feel mostly good and confident and occasionally even awesome at everything, and i hope all these fabulous programs can continue to survive because i want all the kids i know to feel this way too.

so come to the fundraiser and stage write show!