Do you ever wish...

No you're not. Totally agree. And I'm afraid I do tune out. I wonder if it's being an only child I learnt how to at an early age having to sit through boring grown up things.

Made me smile vq Been there so many times!

I went to DGS1's play this week and, of course, he was brilliant. But I was mesmerised by his friend - blond curls, enormous smile and brilliant jazz hands - a star in the making!

Ha ha, and sitting on chairs made for 5 year olds watching all those nativity plays year after year. Cute but.......

i love going to these things, you are lucky to be asked. I don't think you are a misery guts but..........

While sitting through it for a few sessions per year for a few years, remember we may be complete bores one day to our grandchildren, if we aren't already.

I love them. It takes me back to my school days where plays, singing, and hockey were the only things I enjoyed.

I would love to go to my grandchildren's performances but the school has a strict 2 tickets per family policy as space is so limited. Instead I get to watch the dvd from the comfort of my own sofa

I absolutely love these occasions and feel honoured to be asked along. My little grandson is a little shy at these rather public events and it has been wonderful watching him come out of his shell. Of course I like watching my grandson the best but I also enjoy seeing all his little friends play their part. If you don't like it make an excuse and don't go. I'm sure their will be other grandparents who will appreciate your ticket because they are usually in short supply.

I always attended the things I was invited to - shows, plays, nativities in school/church, sports day, fetes...
With the grandchildren, I haven't been invited to anything. I really regret that, however boring, I used to enjoy my DCs pride in their achievements, and now by extension, my GCs. In fact, with the GDs, I don't feel part of the family at all - usually finding out stuff on Fb, or through their uncles.
Not whinging, just stating a fact.

I love going, but rarely get a chance now, as we're too far away. I used to produce shows and concerts at school in my career as a music teacher, and learned to value every contribution from other people's children. Maybe I love seeing them now because I know the work that went on to produce it?

I used to love the plays,etc. that my children and grandchildren were in.So much so,that I often had a tear in my eye!

You don't get this sort of thing in Germany, and I would love to be able to go and see my grandchildren perform.
(Even if there was something to see, they are too far away...)

I always enjoyed going to the gigs when my children were older and in the school band - I knew most of the other children involved and enjoyed watching them, too.

Even if none of the children are known to me, I enjoy a school play.

So I say, enjoy them while you can and take lots of photographs.

You are not alone, VQ. These productions are sooooo tedious and yet we all feel duty bound to show up and applaud. Even as a small child, I hated the awful Sunday school concerts and school nativity plays we had to perform every year. So boring! It was a great relief when my own offspring grew up and I didn't have to endure any more.

I just feel honoured too be asked! Its worth putting up with seeing the other kids (sometimes they are really funny) just to catch of my little grand daughter in her angel outfit our whatever. Did the same when my grandson was little.

Love these events-if I know even a few of the children. You can be (silently) supercritical of the bad acts and super appreciative of the good ones. Your child might be the best , but they appreciate your presence even if they aren't the leading light.
It's the end if the year, so I've just been to a school play (followed by hordes if excited children asking "Did you see me?" "Did you like my dance?" " Did you get the joke I did?" etc, etc.
Then a Talent show- I went to see the contortionist, but was fascinated by a 5 year old doing a routine with hip movements to die for and amazing children who could do a dance routine whilst hula hooping.
I could willingly have tuned out of some offerings, but they were soooo earnest in their efforts. I pass the time thinking how they could improve the acts. I often wish I could hold up a card saying SMILE!
2 leavers services came next, both very moving but one less enjoyable. The school refuses to have microphones for children reading out their memories so some were inaudible. The most impressive thing was how well the other children sat throughout the session. I appreciate the chance. One family live 6 hours away, so chances to see them involve a long drive and an overnight stay.

Oh, yes, though I will admit to having seen one or two really good productions - Captain Noah and his Amazing Floating Zoo was one that dds' primary school did many years ago. The music was brilliant and I really wish I had a video of it.

Also I do make an exception for any little ones' Nativity plays - hearing a load of wee ones singing Away in a Manger will invariably have me groping for the tissues. Though that's 'proper' Nativity plays of course, not 'progressive' versions.

Afraid to say the boredom doesn't altogether disappear as they get a lot older. At graduation ceremonies you have to sit and watch hundreds of others go up to shake hands, when the only one you're really interested in is your own. Dd1's first degree ceremony seemed particularly interminable - was glad to find dd2's considerably shorter!

Vampire - there's just one good reason for going to school shows and events - your child wants you there. That's the most important thing to them, whether their person is there to see them or not.
As a teacher and a family member I've seen the disappointment of 'My mom never came.' They don't forget easily.
One the other hand, as they get older, sometimes it all changes and you're really not welcome! If you can't enjoy the efforts of the children just remember there'll come a day when you don't even know what's going on in school!

I do love going to these things, except for the low chair thingy, a bit difficult when you have a spinal condition! I love to watch the other kids too, some are so confident, some shy and the teachers can sometimes bring out the absolute best in kids at these performance based shows. I must admit though that 3 of my kids had the same teacher (different years) and it seems the only play he ever did was James and the Giant Peach, never thought I'd get to say I was bored with Roald Dahl!

Simple - don't go. Seriously if it's that tedious then do something else and give other people more space on the rock hard pews.

Love the honesty and humour of the OP. Yup - had to do it all 4 times over and it gets worse with the secondary school concerts and prize-givings! [hmm) I suppose the only bonus as they get older is that my backside could actually fit on the chair!

Don't mind the kids things at all. I have to admit however, I always tune out when the priest delivers his sermon at mass..Oops.I have just committed a sin and will have to go to confession...again!!

We do because we know our children would be disappointed if we didn't go and we would feel guilty.
I have just attended our gd graduation (an American thing) but it was really enjoyable.

I'm so fortunate. I usually get invited to watch school displays , opera choirs, recitals, whatever involves my. granddaughters .I discovered a while ago that it is only for a few short years and they are so delighted to have parents and grandparents come to watch their performances. Okay they are not always good actors or singers but they have put so much work into learning lines and rehearsals that it's the least you can do. Smile a huge smile and bear it all. It will mean so much to them !!!!

I'm about to put the cat among the pigeons here.... having been a teacher for over thirty years I can say with some conviction that the amount of time and effort put in by both the staff and children into various types of public performance is huge. Some children find it so difficult and do well to even appear on the stage. I have been at performances where people with this bad and selfish attitude have seen the "bit" their child was In and then WALKED OUT! So sorry you aren't intelligent enough to appreciate the work these young children have done and you had better hope you don't find yourself in one of MY class presentations and look bored!