Little Miss Sunshine Moments

[milee]

Remember the scene in "Little Miss Sunshine" when sweet little 7 year old Olive goes to perform her surprise special talent at the pageant and the surprise turns out to be that it's a completely inappropriate strip-tease type dance?  When her family realizes the entire audience is judging Olive and starting to be mean to her, the family gets up on stage to support Olive.  Even though they're embarrassed and probably not into dancing like that in public, they do it because they want to show Olive they love her and support her no matter what.

Are there any odd, uncomfortable or embarrassing things you do to support your loved ones?

Please spill.  I'm dabbling in some Little Miss Sunshine type supporting moments with my family (not strip-tease) and could use some support myself.   

[bean29]

Lol. My cadet GS leader used to wake us up in the morning saying "get up all you little Mary Sunshines". Hope it didn't relate to your movie scene.

I am just texting my son that I think his GF of 3 years is abusive to him. He basically told me everyone he knows says that and they are broken up. I asked him to talk to a counselor.

[moneymaven]

This summer, we were at a wedding and they played a song that DH knew the dance from Just Dance. The dance floor cleared and it was just DH dancing his heart out.

His sisters, cousins and I only let him stand by himself for about 10 seconds then we all joined in whether or not we knew the dance. We may have looked ridiculous but at least we did so together.

Our family always looks out for one other and I hope I instill that same protective love in my own children.

[giramomma]

In 2nd grade, one of DS's spelling words was respect. Every time we reviewed the word, I'd sing the song. I guess, after the spelling test, DS's teacher played a recording Arethra singing the song, and DS was like "Oh, that's the same thing my mom sings every time we practiced my spelling words."

DS also has a report due this week Friday. It ended up being two pages, handwritten. Handwriting is the bane of DS's existence, and was not doing well on Saturday morning when he was working on it and I was supervising. We took a 5 minute break, and when he came back to the table, I had the Rocky Theme going on YouTube.

I always talk to my babies in the grocery store too, when we'd go shopping. I can't tell you how stares/head turns/questions if I was speaking to someone else because of it. Even worse, when I'd go without a kid, I'd still talk to myself..

I also get into a bathing suit in public when the kids want to have some water fun...

[CarolinaKat]

Feb 3, 2014 23:38:23 GMT -5 giramomma said:

I always talk to my babies in the grocery store too, when we'd go shopping. I can't tell you how stares/head turns/questions if I was speaking to someone else because of it. Even worse, when I'd go without a kid, I'd still talk to myself..

You're not alone. When I take my horse new places I walk him around and introdue him to things by name and talk everything through with him. It calms him down when he can get a good look at stuff. My mother thought I was insane for a very long time, my dad just dutifully did it when I had to be elsewhere. But mom didn't dis-own me. Then we got to a show and there was another girl with a young horse going "See Rocket? This is a barrel, nothing to be scared of. And this is a trashcan, where people put thier trash. Here's a water-spicket. It makes scary noises so we'll go over here..." I seemed much more normal then.

At least you talk to something that will talk back someday...

[milee]

Bean, I'm sorry to hear about your son's GF. Good for him for being strong and self-aware enough to stop the relationship.

Moneymaven, it sounds like you have a really nice, supportive family.

Gira, of course you should talk to your baby!  Anybody who gives you a look is crazy.  And yes, the bathing suit thing can be a sign of love...

CarolinaKat, whatever makes you and your horse happy is good. 

Thanks for the stories, they're good. 

[milee]

Feb 4, 2014 13:31:00 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

We are flying to a different state to see BIL in concert.  His music is strange and not very enjoyable while intellectually challenging.  When we mingle with his friends we are the shlubby, (relatively) conservative suburbanites amidst a sea of vegan, philosophizing hipsters.

Oh, wow, that really is a labor of love!  Very supportive.  I hope BIL appreciates it.

(Of course now I am picturing this scene and the unenjoyable, intellectually challenging music...  )

[Deleted]

They're "soundscapes"! 

[milee]

Anne, the scene you're describing with the music and people sounds like a Saturday Night Live sketch.

But what do I know? I'm old and Libertarian.

[CarolinaKat]

Feb 4, 2014 13:59:48 GMT -5 milee said:

Anne, the scene you're describing with the music and people sounds like a Saturday Night Live sketch.

But what do I know? I'm old and Libertarian.

"I need more COWBELL!"

[midjd]

Lol! I was thinking Sprockets...

Now is the time on Sprockets where we DANCE!

[Deleted]

milee what is your Ms. Sunshine bit?

[milee]

Just supporting boys. Not a huge deal, just parenting stuff. But not only are boys really foreign to my growing up, but frankly so is trying to be a good parent, so maybe I overthink things.

It's nice to hear everybody's stories about the funny things they do for their family.

[giramomma]

Feb 4, 2014 13:03:32 GMT -5 milee said:

Thanks for the stories, they're good. 

I have another one. The littlest is 21 months now, and has been requesting to sit on the potty. So, we've been have some discussions about basic potty training facts. Well, yesterday morning, the littlest got right up close to  my girly area and said "peepee down", hoping that something might happen.

Then there was the time, when we were potty training DS where I had to use the bathroom in a chain store. And of course, the restroom is located in the back of the store. The whole way to the front, and out the door, DS proudly announced "Mommy made pee-pees"

I also taught DS to say "Daddy made a big poop!" after DH came out of the bathroom.

Seriously, potty training should provide lots of little miss sunshine moments for families.