The Bee

Last week Kendall came home with a giant list of words and an announcement that he had signed up to participate in the school spelling bee. It was short notice since the list came home on Tuesday and the spelling be was on Friday, but we spent the next couple of days working on the lists. Everytime we would practice, my anxiety about this thing grew to epic proportions. I found that I would hold my breath every time Kendall would spell a word and I would exhale once he finished. I didn't know if I could handle the actual competition. He seemed totally at ease with it. Which I think is how I was when I participated in the spelling bee as a kid too. At the time it just seemed like no big deal--it's just spelling. When I missed a word at the end placing me in third, there were no tears on my part. (A little frustration, because I knew that word!) I didn't feel like a failure because I mispelled one word. My life went on as usual. It was fine. But as the PARENT of a child in a spelling bee, I was stressed out! I just prayed that he wouldn't get out on the first round.

The big day arrived and we nervously headed over to watch. The classes filed in to watch and the participants came in and took their seats. Kendall was totally fine. Other kids were not fine. The first little boy who got up just completely came apart. He knew how to spell the word, I could tell but stage fright overtook him and he stood there shaking and near tears and finally mumbled a few letters before going to sit with his class. Several other kids had similar experiences. I began to hyperventilate slightly. Finally it was Kendall's turn. He stepped up to the microphone and as calmly as anything, spelled his first word right.

Several rounds later the numbers had diminished drastically but Kendall was still in. I found myself holding my breath for all of the kids and nearly crying whenever one would get out. Who thought up such a torturous event anyhow??? At last there were only 4 kids left and it was Kendall's turn. He was asked to spell the word "Prairie" and when he hesitated briefly knew he was going to miss it. That tricky little "i" after the "a" was what did it. When they said he spelled it wrong he just sighed, shrugged, smiled over at us and sat down with his class. (The funny thing is, Kalen was sure he'd spelled it right. "It's "ai"? he asked incredulously")

The third kid left in the group misspelled his word too leaving two girls who went back and forth for several more rounds. There was some confusion as to the rules of things and how it was supposed to end, but finally they had a winner. We thought they should have called a third place tie with Kendall and the other little boy since they both got out in the same round and the only reason Kendall wasn't third was the order in which they were in line. But they didn't. They gave third place to the other kid. Kendall was fine with it though. He said: "That's okay, the medals were just plastic--like I need one of those!"

Regardless, we all survived the experience. Kendall says he had a great time and is already looking forward to next year's bee. WHAAAT????