Faith Renewed

2 weeks and a day after the first audition, Hans got a call back for a second audition. The email was sent on a Monday for a Tuesday call back! How does one prepare for it and what goes into this preparation?! I asked Hans to prepare a little monologue about his most favourite person.

Hans' first pick was Ironman! The first sentence of his monologue included words like kidnapped, stabbed, killed and murdered! Seriously?! Time to quickly pick another superhero who has a little less violence in his past. Next choice was Captain America. A good story about a boy overcoming physical limitations and achieving his goal of serving his country!

Hans had 15 minutes allocated for him. He was in the audition for over 15 minutes! I thought that it was a good indication. Then, almost a week goes by and NO word. I couldn't sleep at all. On the 7th day, I missed a call and when I called back, it was the Casting Director!! He had good news; they wanted Hans to be part of the TVO show. After several auditions, they selected 14 kids.

Yesterday was Hans' first day of filming with dialogue. He worked with a script and did 3 scenes for an episode. He was exhausted after a 5 hour schedule; however, he was so happy and can't wait to go back tomorrow!!

Thank you Gods and Goddesses!

 

Marketing Ploys

One fine day, a few weeks ago, Hans and I discovered that Danino has new collectible drinkable yogurt containers! There were 20 to collect in total.

Hans got all excited. He picked up one pack that has 8 drinkable yogurt containers. When we got home, he wanted to drink some yogurt. So, he had one container. Then, he wanted another. He was so proud of his collection of 2 containers. Before he went to bed, he wondered if he could have one more container?! I understood his enthusiasm for these collectible containers as well as his curiosity, so I asked him to grab one more from the fridge. A few seconds later, I heard a loud cry of outrage, "HEY! I already got this one!!"

Poor Hans thought that each pack would have 8 different collectible containers. He was shocked to find a duplicate!! I had to get him to sit down and explain that it doesn't work that way. Companies want kids to buy a lot of packs to finish off their collections. They don't make any money if a kid can finish off his or her collection by buying 3 or 4 packs of yogurt containers‎!! I let Hans know that it is a marketing ploy.

There was a pause of perhaps 5 seconds before Hans exclaimed, "I LOVE this Marketing Ploy!!" and ran off happily.

So far, he has collected 18 out of 20 collectible containers. We continue to buy the 8-packs so Hans can one day complete his collection!

 

Semi Finals

I took Hans to his very first Raptors' game a few weeks ago. Within a few minutes, he was in sync with the crowd as they yelled in unison "DEFENCE!! DEFENCE‎!!".

It is, in general, a great feeling to support our team. For a child, I suppose, it is amazing to scream and shout‎, and not be told to be quiet! Personally, it was too loud for me; but then, it was a great opportunity to share an experience with Hans...it was my first time at a Raptors' game as well!!

Lucky for us rookies, ‎it was also the 20th Anniversary of the Raptors!! We got to see the "6 Founders" and we also got a performance by the original "Raptors' Girls". So much excitement and to top it off, one of the boyfriends decides to propose to one of the original "Raptors' Girls"!! Hans was truly enchanted by everything that happened. It was also good that the Raptors won the game.

When we got home, Hans declared that he loves Basketball and he loves the Toronto Raptors. He just had one question about the guy proposing to his girlfriend. Hans didn't understand why the crowd clapped and cheered?! I told him that the couple are engaged and everyone was happy for them!! Hans didn't get it and I told him that "engagement is something that happens before a wedding". Hans got it and he confirmed it by stating that "it is like the semifinals before the final"!

The things we learn at a Basketball game.

 

God, Faith and Rejection

Hans mentioned today that he will get a part in the TVO show for sure. I asked him how?! He said that he asked God and so, he will get the part!!

I had to do the good parent intervention and debug his brain a bit. I asked him this question: what if all the kids who auditioned asked God for a part? There are so many kids and only a few parts! Hans thought over it for a second and exclaimed loudly that if God doesn't give him the part, he will fart on him!! So much for reverence!!

A simple debugging wasn't the solution here; it appear‎ed like we needed an entire brain overhaul! This child has always asked questions about God; even visualized him as a mash up of all super heroes! And yes, he thinks of God as masculine! Is it too soon for him to lose faith in God...whoever that God may be in Hans' brain?!

I don't know why, but I chose to save God.

I explained how his big brother, ASid, did not recently get into a high school program; however, he got accepted into another program later! It is good he‎ got into the second program because his best friend will be there with him!!

Sometimes God does not give us what we want so we can get something better later.

I don't know how much I got through to him. At this point in time, I am praying to all Gods out there - male, female, all religions, all colours! Please don't let Hans be rejected!! ‎But then I am also comforting myself with the thought that if that should happen, there are better things out there for my child. Together, all Gods and Momley, will help Hans find another part...

... no one should fart on God or anyone!

First Anything!

Today is Hans' First Audition. Last night, he wanted to know what would happen if he does not do well?! Poor kid!! He has probably been carrying the big weight of his family's expectations on his little 6 year old's shoulders?! Well, I told him it doesn't matter. There will be other opportunities. I am not sure that was a great response or even a good one?!

Last year, Hans was a background performer on a TVO show‎. He got selected based on a picture I sent in. He worked for 6 days and was paid $300 in total. That was in April. We were pleasantly surprised when the production company emailed and inquired about Hans' availability for an audition. Apparently, the show did well and got picked up for a second season!

Hans' life's aim has been to be a superhero and be famous! Essentially, he has seen superheroes on TV and in movies, and that's where he wants to be. In that sense, this is a dream come true for him. As I am thumb typing this‎ on my mobile phone, my little guy is sleeping. We are 2 and a half hour away from his first audition. I wish him all the best.

When we come back, I will finish this post! Que sera sera...what will be will be...

Hans woke up and said that he was scared to go to the audition! ‎At that point in time, I was a little scared for him too! Would he be scarred for life if I made him go and he did badly and gave up his dreams?! I just put my doubts aside and told my child to get ready to go and have some fun. I also shared that I am scared and it is OK! We have each other and we can do it.

I did not get a chance to be part of Hans' audition, but he was pleased with himself‎. We don't know if he got a role in the TVO show. It doesn't matter. Hans showed up at the audition and took that first step. That's all that matters!

 

Generosity and Money Management

Perhaps I was too quick to jump to conclusions?!

My first born sent a note the very next day of the "Texting Rampage" incident to apologize to his Momley‎! He is also home now.

ASid came back with 20 Euros and some change. 20 Euros was the emergency money the teacher asked each student to ‎keep with her! If not for that, ASid literally came home with "chump change"! Somehow even writing about it seems so petty now.

ASid came back with an experience that will remain with him for the rest of his life. He seems somehow more grownup now than on March 12, 2015, the day he left on his trip. He also brought home thoughtful gifts for his family and friends. I am not talking souvenirs here; these are real gifts like a book, a 1 litre glass bottle of apple juice‎, posters, cologne/perfume (small/sample sizes), etc.

He did not buy ice cream for himself, and he did do silly stuff like eat macarons that he does not like; however, he is only 13 and this is the first time he was away from home and making decisions on his own! He may not know how to manage money, but he has a generous heart. I am so proud of him.

‎I still need to take him out for ice cream and have that talk about money management and while I am at it, I must discuss his extreme generous nature!

 

The Funnies and the Waterfalls

There are days I tell myself that I am doing a terrible job as a mother. I am sure I must have mentioned somewhere that I perhaps put that extra pressure on myself. If other moms can work and take care of their children, I should do a fantastic job of just taking care of them?! Right?!

Then there are days I know I have done a great job! Such days are made possible by moments like the following:

Hans remarked the other day that his Momley is the best person in the family. When asked for an explanation, he elaborated that his Momley does all the work in the house. In fact, according to him, she is a servant of the family. However, he did conclude that she is better than Batman's servant!

That is a moment when I don't know if I should cry or laugh?! So, I laugh. At least, the little guy observes his environment and knows what is happening. He recognizes his Momley’s contributions in his own special way!

Then there are other moments…

Right now, Hans' big brother is in Paris on an optional school trip! ASid is lucky that he has such generous maternal grandparents and an awesome maternal uncle who are willing to support his dreams or as some may term them, his whims!! ASid is 13 and very few kids get to go overseas at this age. Obviously, he is learning a lot! What I did not expect was the following:

Yesterday, ASid refused to talk with me on the phone and instead went on a Texting rampage! He accused me of ill preparing him with money management and budgeting! He was like "I am just a kid and you expect me to bring back souvenirs for everyone! I can't even buy ice cream for myself!" Well, that was a tad exaggerated. Just a day prior to that, ASid spent money on expensive macarons and McDonald's macarons to do a blind taste test...and he does not even like macarons!!

Should I laugh or cry?!

Well, this has been a learning experience for me. I hope it has been one for ASid as well! ‎As of yesterday, he still had a day and a half to go in Paris and 13 Euros in his pocket. I think he will survive. Tomorrow, he will be home. I will make sure I take him out for ice cream and have that chat about money management and budgeting!

Note: I started typing this post on February 5th and forgot what "the waterfalls" were; today, on March 18th, I knew and finished typing the post!