Disclaimer: Please feel free to skip this post unless you enjoy parental gushing over videos of amateur singers.

Lester Middle School’s Got Talent show went off this afternoon with quite a few hitches, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. When the kids came home a month ago and said they were going to audition, I tried to remain neutral, responding, “Cool.” What I really wanted to say was, “Which song? Let’s download it. Let’s work out your performance. Connect with the song. Move around a little more, and look like you are enjoying yourself. Let’s make sure it’s in your range.” And a thousand other little coaching tips. I tried to talk them into singing together to increase the odds of getting in, and I recited, “There’s only so many acts, guys…don’t be disappointed…” I was stunned when they both made it in individually. Then, they refused to sing the songs for us at home, dashing any chance I might have had for “input” (AKA meddling).

Memphis opened the show with Taylor Swift’s song “Trouble.”  *cue collective chuckle* She came out, waved to the crowd, waited, realized the music was too soft and proceeded to walk behind the stage to straighten out the tech guy herself. Then she popped back out, the music started, she started singing, realized her mic wasn’t on, clicked it on and carried on. Longest minute of my life. She sang well, if a little tentative, and made it through the performance, flashing her award-winning smile at the end. She is a tiny little sixth grader and as she stood there, I just about lost my marbles. To audition, rehearse, and then perform in front of several hundred middle school peers? Guts. (Blame the cameraman for the missing intro and first verse.)

[youtube=http://youtu.be/K4UshaFUuF0]

Ransom was sixth in line, so I had a few acts to let the butterflies well up again before he sang. We watched a couple dancers, a couple singers, and a band group. When Ransom finally came out, the squeals almost split my right eyeball. He sang Justin Bieber’s “Fall.” I don’t think I had ever heard the song before, and it was very sweet. He was the only guy that sang in the show, and he wow’ed the crowd. I love the places in his performance when he saw someone he knew well in the crowd, and his smile broke through. I saw his hand shaking the tiniest bit, but he kept his composure. Afterward, a girl behind us said, “I am SO getting a picture with Ransom. That is all.” Mercy. I hope his head will fit inside the door tonight.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTcdIflfeWo]

{do not miss Memphis in the background cheering him on, as well as a couple swooners on the front row there}

At the end, I sat amazed at ALL the kids who performed. I began singing in front of people when I was really young, but I’m not sure I ever performed in front of my junior high peers (aside from the ones at church). During those middle years, I didn’t want to put myself in a position to be noticed AT ALL if possible, as I felt awkward enough just walking down the hall. Ransom and Memphis, you have so much potential—always use your gift (and finish your math homework while you are at it, please).