by Mama Mabel
Ladybug got her 15 seconds of fame yesterday when she debuted as a cow in the nativity scene at the end of the church kids' Christmas play. I made her a cow costume (read tunic worn backward and safety pinned on) out of black and white felt to match the cute black and white cow face hat the church already had.
The kids didn't practice all together until yesterday morning so we put her on stage with them to help prepare her for what would happen. I stood to the side behind the curtain while the two slightly older girls she adores held her hands and walked her up to stand between them. They were angels, both in behavior and costume, which made it especially funny to me for them to walk my silly little cow out. All was going well until she spotted the manger. I couldn't see much from where I stood but one minute I heard the sounds of a Christmas song and the next I heard Ladybug's gleeful cry of "Baby!" I knew we were sunk. She took Baby Jesus out of the manger and held him adoringly. She wouldn't let any of the other kids have him. Fortunately, everyone there thought it was hilarious.
Now that I knew what to expect, I did a lot of coaching. Ladybug and I talked about how the baby in the bed (manger) on stage was for looking at with your eyes but not for touching. We made cow(ish) costumes for her two favorite baby dolls so they could stay with her and keep her arms full while not being too obvious from a distance. I was so proud of her as I helped wrangle the kids backstage. She was very good about staying behind while the other kids went on and off stage. She was quieter than a lot of the older kids. She even let me put her costume on when it was time. She only wanted to hold one of her babies but that let her hold hands more easily with the angels. We had a last minute discussion about how the baby in the bed is just for looking at and she pointed to her eyes to show she understood. Finally the big moment arrived and she walked out to a collective "awww" from the audience. It made my mama heart proud.
I was sent to stand just behind the curtain so I could watch her and she was so cute! Then she realized how many people were looking at her and started to get nervous. She looked like she wanted to bolt and saw me so I waved her over since no one expected her to stay up the whole time. Then she had second thoughts and froze so I waved at her to stay in place. Then she remembered baby Jesus and headed that direction. The angels were quick enough to stop her and I was told to sit on the edge of the stage and hold her hand for the last few seconds. I did NOT want to be on stage but I was so thrown off I just obeyed. Once I held her hand she was comfortable staying close to the other kids and made it to the end. The other kids were so flustered that they forgot to bow and just rushed off stage laughing and excited that they had done so well. Ladybug and I went back with them to take her costume off and she wouldn't quit asking for "baby!" so one of the directors said she could carry the baby Jesus doll around which she did for the rest of the night. She showed it off with pride to everyone who talked to her and doted on it like a mother hen. No one else was allowed to hold it. I guess she took the idea of Jesus being her personal Savior very seriously.
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