They Won't/Will Grow Up

PETER PAN:
Are you ready for today's lesson?

ALL:
Yes, Peter!

PETER PAN:
Listen to your teacher. Repeat after me:
I won't grow up,
(I won't grow up)
I don't want to go to school.
(I don't want to go to school)
Just to learn to be a parrot,
(Just to learn to be a parrot)
And recite a silly rule.
(And recite a silly rule)
If growing up means
It would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree,
I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up
Not me!
Not I,
Not me!
Not me!

Our oldest (15) just performed in the musical "Peter Pan." The show was FABULOUS, may I brag?

The musical brilliantly highlights boyhood, childhood fantasy, childhood fears and even common parental fears (like losing our children and finding them lonely and hungry).

It amuses me to no end that my four boys have been running around the house singing, "I won't grow up!" It's one of my favorite songs from the show. I cried from my front-row seat Saturday night and the son sitting next to me commented, "Embarassing...Mom!"

I'm reminded not to be so grumpy about the little pieces of paper all over the living room floor ( J and W have been cutting swords out of cardboard) or their unmade beds. Grumbling over homework and chores. Dangerous tree climbing and rope swinging.

It's all a part of that wonderful phase called boyhood. So quickly I see it passing. My older two already have "real" girlfriends (gasp!)

Here is a snippet from our show.