junior high talent show

As you know if you have been reading this blog, SJ was going to enter the Talent Show at his junior high. You also know that all of us, except SJ, were anxious and worried about his performance. Would he mumble the lyrics? Would he sing off key? Would he get laughed at by his peers?  That whole morning I was a ball of stress over SJ's performance.


I sent two of his teachers an email to see how he did. Unfortunately, they did not get back to me. (I am sure they were busy, but I was "dying".) This caused me more stress. I was hoping that one of them would videotape him, but I would have to wait and see. 


Around 3:30, I got an voicemail from Meryl's mom. She said, "I think SJ had a really good performance. Meryl said that everyone was clapping and he even had a standing O. I asked her if people were clapping for real or were they mocking him and she said they were clapping for real. Be proud and shed a few happy tears, because SJ did a great job."


That was one of the best voicemails that I got in my life. A short while later, I heard from Topher's and Willie's mom who said that SJ was awesome in the Talent Show. I immediately called my husband to relay the wonderful news. He was so happy that he was almost crying in elation.


My husband got home before I did and congratulated SJ on his incredible performance. SJ didn't want to talk about it much, but he did say that the "kids enjoyed it". I gave him a big hug and told him how proud we were of him. He said he didn't know if he would win (results were going to be announced on Monday morning). I reminded him that he won by just being courageous and trying.


That evening, I got an email from one of his teachers reiterating that SJ did an awesome job.  I put a post on social media since I could hardly contain my pride. I got many reply messages from parents who said their kids really enjoyed SJ's act. That gave me such pure happiness.


All the worry over judgmental teenagers was for not. I am sure there were still a few stinkers that can't focus on the positive, but I will only focus on the fact that my child with PDD-NOS got on a stage, sang his original lyrics, made students smile and stand up for him. That gives me hope that others like SJ can pursue their dreams regardless of potential bullies or mean spirited souls. SJ is a testament to the fact that just because you have a label, it doesn't mean your diagnosis is one size fits all. So proud of our awesome son!