What do you do when you are so proud of one of your children and your heart is breaking for the other one?  Both of my kids auditioned for Grease last August and worked equally as hard preparing their songs and rehearsing scenes.  David was cast, and Abbie wasn't.  Despite the fact that there is only 16 1/2 months between them, David is 8 inches taller, a male, and has that mature look of one who has turned the corner the adulthood.  The director was right in not casting her...she just looks too young in comparison with all the other girls...but that still doesn't take away her pain.  This is the first major undertaking David has been involved in that Abbie has not.  I went to watch the second act of one of the final rehearsals tonight.  My heart nearly burst with pride watching my firstborn with his hair slicked back dancing a number of very difficult dances ( most of them with girls in his arms!), assisting in difficult set changes, and keeping himself so well composed on stage, but, at the same time, my heart sank for Abbie who was sitting next to me, observing all the fun everyone was having on stage.  To make it harder, Darren is now at all the practices and will be at every performance, doing lights for the show.  Abbie feels so left out.  I try to tell her that her time is coming, but it doesn't seem to take away the pain today.  She has been a trooper in supporting her brother and Dad.  She and I have front row seats for Friday's premiere.  She definitely will be in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" this May and is trying out for "High School Musical" so she does have prospects on the horizon, but it doesn't take out the sting of this evening.  What's a mother to do?

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Posted by Anonymous

Hi Julie... Wendy here... it's so hard, as mothers we feel our children's pain acutely. I've had to give these things to God, He reminds me that in this life we will have troubles and we can learn and grow through the difficult times. I try to impress upon my younger daughter that no matter what happens, Jesus will always be there for her and she can grow closer to Him as He helps her through whatever it is that's happening! It's tough because she has her older sister who does so much! Love and miss you bunches.

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