The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    South Korea speeds up full-fledged deployment of US anti-missile battery

  • 3

    Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era

  • 5

    INTERVIEWHow ATEEZ achieved worldwide success

  • 7

    Kakao seeks to bolster SM's global presence as new owner

  • 9

    Yoon's labor reform drive sputters due to controversy over lengthening workweek

  • 11

    Firstborns account for record-high 63% of newborns

  • 13

    Apple Pay service limited by lack of NFC terminals

  • 15

    Foreign minister hosts Iftar dinner for Muslims in Korea

  • 17

    N. Korea holds general meeting of Olympic Committee

  • 19

    4 young Nigerian siblings killed in house fire in Ansan

  • 2

    Do Kwon, Korea's crypto 'genius' turned disgraced fugitive

  • 4

    Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance'

  • 6

    Montenegro charges crypto fugitive Do Kwon with forgery

  • 8

    Sex, drugs, and The Glory

  • 10

    Cha Jun-hwan wins historic silver at figure skating worlds

  • 12

    ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK

  • 14

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to apologize to victims of Gwangju massacre

  • 16

    Horace N. Allen: Joseon's foreign royal physician

  • 18

    North Korean refugee escape class of 2011

  • 20

    Korean police search for 2 Kazakhstanis who fled airport

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Mon, March 27, 2023 | 22:57
Healthcare
Why children's performance so special?
Posted : 2016-12-18 15:50
Updated : 2016-12-18 16:44
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Ann and Ellen, fifth and sixth from left, stand on stage for their preschool's Christmas performance as they wave to familiar faces. / Courtesy of Jane Han
Ann and Ellen, fifth and sixth from left, stand on stage for their preschool's Christmas performance as they wave to familiar faces. / Courtesy of Jane Han

Twins do first stage performance


By Jane Han

After coming out of one of the worst colds of my life, I was awarded with an early Christmas present ― my twin girls' first-ever preschool Christmas performance.

I knew they'd been practicing nine songs for the past month, but every time I asked them to try them at home, I got nothing. I assumed that the songs ― in English, of course ― may be a little too difficult for the girls to follow.

That was fine, so I wasn't expecting much. Not much at all.

But as always, kids just love doing a complete 180. And in this case, it was the good kind.

Ellen, who was proud to stand right smack in the center of the stage, not only appeared to be singing along, but busted out with all the motions to go with each song.

Ann, who was having a bad morning from the moment she woke up, didn't look too psyched to be on stage, but stood with a deer-in-the-headlights look and stuck through ― until she finally broke out in tears halfway through the eighth song.

To me, the mom, even that moment melted my heart. I began tearing up a few times, but every time the emotions started building up, Lauren served as a major distraction and snapped me out of the mood.

At one point during the 30-minute program, I took a quick moment to look around at other parents, grandparents and family friends who had their eyes glued on their own little ones.

They looked so happy, so proud.

Yes, there is definitely something about watching little children perform. So what is it about these performances that make them so special?

First, it's the innocence.

These pink-cheeked tiny tots have that undeniably innocent look on their faces. No one tries to look pretty, no one tries to act cool, and no one tries hard to outshine the friend next to them. They would be considered successful if they don't break into tears. Their sheer existence and presence on stage is more than enough to make any performance shine.

Second, it's another milestone.

The moment I saw Ellen and Ann walk through the door and onto the stage, I got a huge lump in my throat. I couldn't believe my little twins have grown up this much.

Just a few months ago, they were so miserable at school, struggling to get used to teachers, friends and a whole new language. But now, here they were, smiling and standing so proudly.

I then imagined for a split second what it would be like to see them walk in their high school graduation. So many people tell me how quickly time flies to that moment. I am so not ready for that and so glad that we are in preschool this very moment.

I know we'll have many more performances to attend over the years and, who knows, maybe the excitement will fade with each one, but this is the first one and it's definitely a special milestone.

Lastly, watching a class performance helped me put my things into perspective.

I am the kind of mom who drops the kids off and dashes right out. I always have Lauren in my arms so I can't linger around much. So even if it has been four months already, I haven't gotten a chance to get a close look at Ellen and Ann's class as a whole.

I've been hearing the girls mention a few names of friends, but didn't know exactly who they were. Honestly, with all kinds of newer names these days, I thought half the names they mentioned were boys all along, but they turned out to be girls.

It was a good experience to for me to see my daughters among their peers and see the overall picture. It was also a humbling opportunity to confirm that, yes, my girls are indeed the shortest of all.

As I continue to replay the video of the girls' first stage performance every night before bed, I'll probably continue reliving the touching moment, over and over again, until the girls' next chance to go on stage.

Emailjhan@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1South Korea speeds up full-fledged deployment of US anti-missile battery South Korea speeds up full-fledged deployment of US anti-missile battery
2Kakao seeks to bolster SM's global presence as new owner Kakao seeks to bolster SM's global presence as new owner
3Firstborns account for record-high 63% of newborns Firstborns account for record-high 63% of newborns
4[ANALYSIS] Tesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK
5Apple Pay service limited by lack of NFC terminals Apple Pay service limited by lack of NFC terminals
6Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to apologize to victims of Gwangju massacre Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to apologize to victims of Gwangju massacre
7Foreign minister hosts Iftar dinner for Muslims in Korea Foreign minister hosts Iftar dinner for Muslims in Korea
8Busan aims to win hearts of developing nations in Expo 2030 bid Busan aims to win hearts of developing nations in Expo 2030 bid
9From mines to mobility: 140-year-old partnership between Germany and KoreaFrom mines to mobility: 140-year-old partnership between Germany and Korea
10Samsung chief inspects production plants in China for first time in 3 years Samsung chief inspects production plants in China for first time in 3 years
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol' Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'
2Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3 Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3
3Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour
4Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance' Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance'
5[INTERVIEW] How ATEEZ achieved worldwide success INTERVIEWHow ATEEZ achieved worldwide success
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group