Song

Well, Kaylee didn't get in to Encore.  She was told by the choir officers that she was actually put in originally, and then she was taken out.  She doesn't know why, and was told that the director won't give out specific information on how you scored or any details, that you'll be told to try again next year.  Some of her friends tried out for Starlets, and two others for Encore, and every one of her friends who tried out got into what they hoped for except her, which is a little tough.  She's pretty sad.  She had this band thing right after finding out, but she was sad so she went away for a little while to try to regroup.  I drove over and picked her up and took her out for ice cream and some commiserating, and then when she was ready dropped her back off to do the band thing, just a bit late.  She won't be home until almost midnight from this contest.  Poor timing on the band contest time.  She also found out that then the director was going to add an additional couple to the Encore group, which would have been her and a boy named Joe, but he was also in soccer and would have to miss a lot of practices, so when he wasn't able to be in the group, she wasn't again either, as they have to have the same number of males to females.  She's also disappointed because two of the people who got in are known to be not strong singers/dancers, and she doesn't understand.  Neither do I, really.  Everyone at school was congratulating her, assuming she got in, not knowing she hadn't until she had to tell them over and over that she didn't.  The Encore group had several kids who expected her to be there, her voice teacher, friends with the director expected her to be there, she said kids she doesn't even know were coming up to her to congratulate her on getting into Encore.  Except she didn't, and all that was just pretty painful for her.  She's still in Starlets, but she was moved to "Second Soprano", because in her attempt to get into Encore she sang a song that showed her vocal range, which also goes up pretty high, even though it's not easier for her.  This backfired, as now she's been moved to a new part, which means re-learning a few things and having to sing higher than she's actually comfortable singing for the entire next year.  She's not having a good day.

This is, however, about the first thing she's attempted that she hasn't been successful at early and out of the gate.  She got into TILT as a 12 year old, a year early.  She got into the Junior Counselor program, also a year early, nailing her interview.  When she auditioned for Starlets, there were 100 girls trying out for 10 spots, she had no previous experience, was unknown, wasn't that strong of a singer, and I didn't expect her to get in...but she did.  She's won talent contests I didn't expect her to win.  She always does well.  This time we all expected she'd make it to Encore, but it just didn't happen.  Steve wants to fix it, but some things are just good ole life lessons that everyone gets and that stinks rotten eggs but is what it is and could always be worse.  I think it's as hard for us as it is for her though.  You really do go half crazy wanting to fix everything for your kids.  There should be more warning labels on parenthood, including that one!