I think it's safe to say my daughter isn't a performing artist. She had preschool graduation in May, and she was the only kid who didn't seem to enjoy being on stage.

The teachers had the kids memorize a couple songs, including some simple hand gestures to go with it - like hula but only for hands. Every single kid but mine seemed to relish the experience.

Things Olivia did during three songs:

-Stand and look bored
-Try to kiss, repeatedly, the two boys flanking her
-Pull her dress in front of her face
-Put her hands on her face
-Quarter-ass (that's half of half-ass) sing the words
-Face the back
-Wiggle. A lot.

She is shy to begin with, so naturally, being stared at by dozens of people was not going to go over well. Plus, this event occurred at 7 p.m., which was dangerously close to her bedtime of 8 p.m.

"Oh, come on, Mom. Relax a little," I've had people tell me. Those are people who either are childless, or whose children are all grown up, so they forgot the daily ins and outs of parenting.

Let me break it down. It's not about me being strict with rules, it's about a little kid who gets cranky and melts down when too tired. I'm really just saving my own sanity by keeping her to the schedule that she knows and likes.

The next day at school, one of the teachers struck up a friendly conversation with me as I dropped Olivia off. "She was so funny on stage, just in her own little world," laughed the teacher.

Was it that obvious? I thought. I mean, it was to me, but this is my kid. My entire attention is on Olivia.

Now this is not to say she will not grow out of it, but for the short term, I don't think drama camp is in our future.