“Sunny days sweepin’ up”- June 4, 2012
I’m pretty sure my daughter experienced the toddler-equivilent of a tween going to a Justin Beiber concert or my mom and her friends going to a Barry Manilow show.
It was our first Sesame Street Live.
Yes, we paid to watch grownups wear mascot costumes and dance on stage to tunes catchier than I care to admit. (Don’t tell me you don’t sing along to the theme song if you’re between the ages of 25 and 40. You remember old school Sesame Street as much as I do.)
We kept telling Charlotte she was “going to see Elmo,” but I don’t think it really sunk in until the lights went out and the curtain rose on Big Bird center stage. Her eyes grew wide and she squealed and pointed. All the characters were introduced. The tension built until the king himself was revealed. It was like an Elvis sighting for Charlotte when Elmo took the stage. We had great seats down low and the show did a great job of keeping a pace that kept her attention.
At intermission the marketing machine that is the “Sesame Street Empire” came out with merchandise. Take a look at these balloons and take a guess at how much they cost.
The man seated next to us was with his pregnant wife and their son who I predicted to be about 3 1/2. They were a very typical family in this crowd. I asked him, “Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, how much was that balloon?” Ready for this? $10! $10 for a freakin’ mylar balloon! When he told me that I chuckled and said, “Oh, okay. Well my daughter may just have to admire your son’s balloon.” He laughed and said his son didn’t get one at Charlotte’s age either.
Many more experienced parents were envious of our child being too little to beg for overpriced souvenirs. The family in front of us with a 4 and a 6 year-old gave us some tips for navigating intermission. We didn’t need much advice because she was so happy. Charlotte loved the show. She ate snacks and danced along. It was a great day. I soaked up the moment of Elmo being her hero before some obnoxious boy band is.
Oh yeah, she took a killer nap afterwards. Thanks Elmo!
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aww how cute! i may be not introducing elmo and seasme street here yet. yeah, i’m mean hahah.
Awwweeee looks like it was super fun; I should have taken Cadence… You know she’s a Elmo freak as well! Maybe next year; Charlotte will just have to share her experience with her.. tehehehe