High Bars and Low Expectations

I worry sometimes that I set impossibly high standards for myself and by association the MP. Specifically when it comes to my need to enrich him culturally. As a working mom, I try and make up for my lack of volunteering at school and homemade meals (and let’s be honest, even if I didn’t work outside the home I would still not be cooking. Ain’t my gig) by taking him places where most 8 year olds don’t get to go. But by doing so, I fear I have set standards that will leave him disappointed later in life. Some examples:

I am a fan of musical theater. This is a surprise to no one reading this. I thought that seven is a good time to start the MP on the road to a similar appreciation. Plus, when he is a teenager he can take his gf to a show and know what the heck he is doing. Girls like dudes who take them to a show and dinner. Trying to raise him right.

Anyhoo, so as has been documented the MP made his first international trip to Merry Old England last spring. My thought process ‘why not see a show in London’s West End while we are there?’ which in hindsight, most ADULTS don’t get to go to England let alone go see a show. And I decided it should be “Phantom of the Opera”. In the theater where it originated. Do you see why I am concerned? I can make a very sound argument for why that would be a Drama Geek (not unlike myself) Holy Grail. PHANTOM. IN LONDON. AT HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Good lord Liza Minnelli, that is AWESOME.

My point? I fear that Pippin at the Peacock Players just isn’t going to cut it for my theater savvy fella and that is kind of sad. Having seen both professional and amateur (in every sense of the word) versions of “Guys and Dolls”, “Grease” etc. I can see the value in both ends of the spectrum. I worry I have forever tainted his live theater pallet. And to confirm those fears as we were headed to see “Wicked” last weekend he muttered, “I hope the seats are better than at ‘Phantom’”. I think I will call the New York Times to see if they have a theater critic opening.

My second example:
I LOVE live music. And not just ‘cool’ live music. A good show is a good show. I have seen everyone from Randy Travis to ‘NSync to KISS. Yes, I just admitted to my darkest secrets: I love Kabuki makeup and manky country singers.

So I wanted to give the MP a wonderful first concert going experience. So I take him to see Rush on his birthday. You know, the Canadian Prog Rock Trio around since the beginning of time? The dudes who make the most AMAZING music with the most thoughtful and interesting lyrics in recorded history? No? Well, the middle aged white guys are with me on this. And as good as they are blasting from the speakers of the Escape, they are 100 times better live. So how will some cover band in a dive bar ever compare to that? I certainly can’t take him to see the Jonas Brothers or whoever the next Disney star might be after seeing the greatest living rock band. Really, my only hope is the remaining members of The Who give the live show circuit one more spin.

I think whatever our next sojourn into the arts will be; I should try and strive for mediocrity. Because there should always be room for improvement.