Saturday, January 21, 2017

Musicals and Growing Up and Stuff

Here's an amusing anecdote, I think.

Precocious Daughter is playing in the orchestra for her high school's production of "Beauty and the Beast."

She's been working so very hard for so many weeks, you guys. Her dedication amazes me.

"High School Musical" isn't just a Disney show, you guys.
It's life, and love, and feels.
So...I attended tonight's performance. And in the two seats to my left were my ex-husband and my ex-mother-in-law.

Yep. Really.

My ex and I regularly meet up at functions involving PDaughter. She is our child, and we both love her, and it's totally not her burden to bear that we no longer exist as a couple.

But this.

My MIL hasn't visited  since her only son and I split up. That should be fucking awkward, right?

Except it's not.

Because I've grown the fuck up since splitting with my ex. And because his mother, bless her soul, is a loving and forgiving person who is willing to accept reality. Bless. Her. Soul

Ha. Ha. Fuck you, Internet.

Anyway, I'm really happy to report that "Beauty and the Beast" was absolutely amazing. How do high school students (and their extremely hard-working faculty) pull off something like this? I'm in awe, frankly.

Me, in awe.
I'm also happy to report that my ex-MIL and I had a blast at the show. We chatted, we laughed, we had a great time.

My ex was, I think, quite discomfited.

Vexed, one might say.

Guess what, Drunkards? I'm more mature than I was when I was married.

I'm more able to love and appreciate my extended family.

And I'm more grateful for the people who love my daughter, even if technically I'm not related to them any more.

I've grown up.

It took getting divorced. Huh.

I know that makes me neither unique nor special.

Just older and wiser than I once was.

You can perhaps relate.

I'm happy that PDaughter is happy.

And that, at long last, I'm in a good place with her family, even though I'm divorced from her dad.

Yeah, that seems weird.

But it's reality.

I love my girl, you know?

And I appreciate her kin. 

Happy at that, I am.

3 comments:

  1. I'm so happy for you, and for PDaughter. Being able to be in the same room and support your daughter is a great thing, and not every family can do that once there's been a split. I, for instance, still have awkward issues when it comes to my ex's mom, but we had a weird dynamic to begin with, so there's that.

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  2. Most of the time high school productions make me think about how current high school generation will shape the future and how reassuring that is. And one of the great things about live theater is instead of being background the orchestra is right there up front so they get some of the recognition they deserve.
    But adults like you are shaping the future too--and the present. Growing up is not something that stops when we reach a certain age or pass a particular milestone.

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  3. I am amazed at the productions they put on now, like off-Broadway quality.

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