Usually, I can’t keep my eyes off of Chloe whenever she is on the stage. I may glance at another child for a moment but my focus quickly shifts back to Chloe. She’s the one who is the most captivating…the most animated…the most beautiful…to me. Sometimes, I get tearful when I watch her, which makes Charlie (who is often seated beside me in the audience) snicker and roll his eyes.

“My kids are so beautiful on the stage, I can’t help but get a little teary,” I say, sniffling.

“Oh God, Mom,” Charlie moans.

“I cry when you’re on the stage too, you know.”

“Well,” Charlie says, “I guess you’re going to be crying an awful lot because I plan to be on the stage pretty much my whole life.”

“I”ll get ready for it,” I say.

“Good,” he says.