Mormon Prom

Warning, I'm complaining...

This is the second year in a row that Megan has been in charge of Mormon Prom. She thought she had handed it off last year to a very capable individual... maybe I should start at the beginning. This is how I understand it. Three years ago Ed came up with the idea to have a prom where music, dance, and dress standards would create an environment he and his friends (mostly members of the church) would want to be in. He asked for permission, gathered a committee and put together the first Mormon Prom in the area. It was a hit. It was handed over to Megan last year. Well, last year various stakes felt there wasn't enough adults involved in the process, so now there had to be an adult rep from every stake - eleven of them. But in the end, it was youth run with an adult "advisor" and a member of our stake presidency informed on all decission... We love President Patterson! What a huge success. The kids on the committee worked so hard and were so thrilled with the outcome. Those that attended absolutely loved it.

Which brings us to this year. The prom is tomorrow. But let's back up again. Megan had handed the prom off last year with the thought that different people/stakes could head it up. Everyone agreed. Then a couple months later we heard that a different stake was doing it... then we heard that a different person was in charge... and then another stake change. This wasn't the youth changing it, it was stake leaders. Then Megan got a call and they wanted her to do it again. She was already wondering why the stakes were pulling the ropes and not a youth committee like how it was set up before. There was an adult committee created with a youth to help. When the youth missed a meeting the adults would make changes. Bottomline, the adults took over. Despite Megan going with an agenda, making assignments, evaluating, etc. she was repeatedly overruled with the adults telling them "you can't do that" , "that will never work", "that will take too long", "you can't do it outside"... and on and on. Every idea the youth had was shot down. Okay, not every... But Megan has felt so ripped apart and unsupported. She hates Mormon Prom this year.

Why can't we have a youth run activity? Isn't that what we want to do? I know that's what the youth want. Allow them to come up with an idea and conquer every aspect of it. Learning as they go. Allowing them to succeed or fail. Yes with guidelines and boundries, but not dictating their every move. Youth want to succeed! Why do some adults feel the need to control and make youth conform. What a disservice.

Okay, now that was a rant! I can just feel for Megan and the youth on the committee that feel like puppets instead of instruments. No fun!

Seussical

Our ward is doing the play, Seussical. It is very fun and... challenging! We have some amazing talent. I get to sit behind the piano. It's one of those musicals that is non-stop playing with very little dialogue so I am kept busy and focused. We have been practicing for a couple of months now with the performances next week. (yippie!) But what I wanted to share is a very silly side note. When I leave the piano bench, walk out to the car or van and sit down I realize my bottom hurts. It hurts so much that I wiggle and squirm around in the seat trying to find a position that allows me to sit all the way down... sometimes it is nearly impossible.

Silly bottom.

Puffy Chicken

I was making lunch today with leftovers from Navajo Tacos. I asked Erina what she wanted on hers and she said, "puffy chicken". It took me all afternoon until I realized puffy chicken is ground beef. Kids are funny!