There are times when the dreaded brain freeze is downright unavoidable – even during auditions.

I was young, 10 or 11, and had been prepped for the audition by a mentor of mine. To assist, she provided me with the song and then rehearsed me on staging/choreography. I was  well prepared.

The audition started fine. The piece fit my voice and personality. I sang, took the bridge on a roll, and began winding down to the conclusion when, out of nowhere, I blanked. Seriously, out of nowhere.

“I’m a little bit . . .”

Brain freeze. Line?

“I’m a little bit . . .”

Nothing. Stark white canvas.

My sister and mother stood outside the door silently mouthing the words and hoping to channel them my way.

I smiled and backed up my choreography for another go, not unlike the revving of a frigid car engine needing a bit more juice to get going – just hit the gas one more time – it WILL start. Come on, come on, come on.

“I’m a little bit (brief pause) short of the elbow room, but let me get you some. So look out world here I come!”

Scene.

I could have stopped when the freeze took over. I could have resigned myself to finishing on “I’m a little bit . . .”. I could have believed that’s the best I could do, thrown out the customary “Thank you” to the director, and then, head hung low, exited the room.

I chose to end on a different note.

I chose to finish well.

Don’t hesitate to share personal childhood experiences with your children.

Whether it’s a mistake you once made, or a hurdle you jumped, sharing a personal story with your child helps them get to know you better, and to see that even YOU have hit speed bumps along your journey. And yet, you still managed to make it to adulthood! Good job!

Photo by Richard Whitesell