Wait... You want to try out for WHAT?

Justice sings all the time.  I mean ALL THE TIME.  He sings loud, and he sings often.  He sings a medley of church primary songs, Christian music, full blown gospel songs, or whatever is currently playing on Disney Radio.  He sings from the time he opens his eyes in the morning and he is singing until they close at night, and he sings with a lot of emotion. 

He sings into fake random "microphones".  Could be a spoon, a hairbrush, a shoe, or in this case, a pair of oversized kids tweezers for building motor skills.

He sings on the way to football practice

He sings when we go camping

And he sings a particular Kirk Franklin gospel song so loud and with so much emotion right before every football game that you'd think he was possessed.  It's comical.  Here we are sitting in the car before it's time to go on the field, and he's singing his heart out.  He could care less who can hear him or who is watching him.  He says singing that song helps him "flip his switch" for the game.  Whatever it takes, I suppose!

But, unfortunately for the ears surrounding him, he does not sing well.  As a matter of fact, he's a terrible singer.  So terrible that about a month ago I was at my wits end and arranged for him to take music and voice lessons beginning right after football ends.  I figure if he's going to sing through every given day, he may as well at least be in key.  And we desperately need him to be in key.

The day he brought home the permission slip to try out for choir at school I almost passed out.  This was one of those Mom moments where you really have to be careful what you say so you don't permanently damage the psyche of your kids.  But, somewhere along the way I missed the "don't hurt your kids feelings" memo, and I had to break it down for him.

Justice:  "Sign this please"

Me:  "What is it?"

Justice:  "A permission slip to try out for the school choir"

Me:   "Wait... You want to try out for WHAT?"

Justice:  "The C H O I R, Mom"

Me:  "Do you really think you ought to do that?  I mean... you know..."

Justice:  "Yeah, thanks a lot Mom.  I'm trying out anyway"

Well, all righty then.  I didn't come right out and say "you suck", but I don't think I had to.  I see those horrible singers trying out for American Idol and I seriously wonder "Where the HECK is that kids Mom?  Did she not tell him it would turn out this way?"  I always feel sorry for those kids.  No way I'm going to those auditions with my kids to watch them go down in a burst of "She Bangs" flames. 

Anyway, I signed the slip and he went on his way.  He tried out the following week, and then we began the wait to see whether he made it or not.  One week passed, and still no results.  He was a nervous wreck.  I was convinced he wasn't going to make it, and I wasn't looking forward to talking him off the emotional ledge he was going to be teetering on afterwards.  Times are different these days. and Justice hasn't ever really had to try out for anything yet.  You don't have to try out for rec league sports, you just make the team.  And whether you win or lose, somebody thinks it's a great idea to give all the kids a trophy at the end.  Kids these days don't really have a concept of not making the team, so I wasn't quite sure how to handle it, especially with his sensitive personality.  I was hanging my hat on pizza and ice cream, and then Justice reminded me of something.

He reminded me that he sang a solo part in nearly all of the school programs every year.  That's true,  he did.  And then he reminded me of the time that his Music teacher came up to me after a program and told me how much she loved having him in class and how much she enjoyed him.  I could tell it wasn't a standard teacher canned answer, either.  She really did like him.  I thought about it for a few days, and then I realized why.  Justice is a GREAT sport.  He will do just about anything in front of a crowd of people with zero inhibitions and no fear (I already fear him going to college).  Public speaking is not a problem for him.  And he loves to sing.  So singing in public?  Perfect.  But why not someone else sing the solo, that can really and truly sing?  Well, I already said it.  Because he's a great sport.  I remember the conversation we had when he got the solo in the Christmas program in 3rd grade.

Justice:  "Mom, I got the singing part!!"

Me (confused as all get out):  WHAT?  Really?

Justice:  "YES!!!!"

Me:  "How?"

Justice:  "Well, she asked who wanted to audition and everybody raised their hands.  Then she told us that we would have to wear an elf suit and everybody took their hands down."

Me:  "Everybody but you?"

Justice (laughing hysterically)":  Yeah, you know I don't care about that, I will bust an Elf suit in a minute."

And that is why the Music teacher likes her some Justice Mack, and that's why the boy that sings off key gets the solo in the Christmas program.

I only have a terrible quality picture of him in his elf suit, but you get the idea, I'm sure.  

At the beginning of the week, he came home and was a little discouraged about try outs.  He told me that the results were taking so long because so many people tried out and it was taking his Music teacher longer than she expected to select the people.  I told him not to worry about it, and reminded him that I had already arranged for him to take music and voice lessons and that he would be a much better singer next year and could audition again in middle school if he didn't make it this year.  

Imagine my surprise when Justice burst through the front door this afternoon after school and told me he made the choir!  Of course in all my tact and class, I asked him "Did everyone make it?", because that was just something I needed to know to get my arms wrapped around this whole thing.  He told me that not everyone made it, several kids he knew didn't get picked.  

I am very proud of him.  Not necessarily for making the choir,  but for having the guts to wear the elf suit and to sing with a voice that he isn't so sure of in front of a huge crowd of people, for singing his face off before every football game no matter who is looking, and for not caring what me or anyone else thinks about it.  He's got a lot more courage than I ever did at his age, and I'm extremely proud of him. 

Way to go Justice.  You amaze me and teach me life lessons every single day.