1st Feis with multiple children! Help!!!

[Kallifornia]

Please forgive me if this has already been asked and answered, I did a search and browsed through here but didn't see it so here goes. I'm a mom with 3 girls all in Irish dancing (me too!). I've signed all 3 girls up for their 1st Feis this weekend. I have an U6, U7 and U8 We have NEVER even been to a Feis let alone compete in one! I'm in a panic now because I just looked up the schedule and DD#2 and #3 are competing on stages 1 and 2 in one room at 8:30am and DD#1 is on another stage in ANOTHER room at 9!! I will have 2 helpers with me so if need be, we can divide and conquer. However, I'm so bummed thinking I may not be able to see all 3 of them dance You know how it is....first competition ever and they ALL want mommy to watch them! Being a newbie, I just assumed all the stages would be in 1 room and they'd go one after the other or you know, not all at the same time

Anyone here with multiple kids competing? Is it better to just allow 1 to compete at a time so it's not so hectic? If I have to only pick 1 child to watch and be with....please kill me now! ANY advice or tips would be appreciated!!

Thanks!!!!
Kalli

[hornpipefeet]

Hi
I'm not a mother, but I dance and compete and my mom always comes with me!
But, you know, they all have more than one dance (I guess they dance the slip jig, reel and light jig?), so if EVER you're not able to see them dance EACH one, you can at least see one of the dances for each one of your daughters... I know they want you to see them for each dance, but I'm also sure that they can understand, and if you have two helpers that they know and appreciate (and I'm pretty sure they do!), they're sure to be seen by at least one of the helpers or you.

Concerning your question about letting only one of them compete at the same time... I'm not a mother, but I really really think this would not be a good idea! I'm sure that competing will become an habit for them and that they will enjoy it more together (even if they know that you can't always see ALL of their dances) than one at a time.
Hope this helps!

And best of luck for the feis to all of them and to you! I'm sure everything's going to be okay!

[Kallifornia]

Thanks so much for your input! I appreciate it! My 5 yr old is only doing 2 dances but the other 2 are doing 4...for this feis they do them all in a row! But I still think I will be able to see them each dance at least one

Thanks again!
Kalli

[Sweetpea]

Good luck, I wish you all many happy years of feising!

[Heidegger]

Four of my sisters and I all compete. Our mom doesn't even try to watch all of our dances. If you can make sure to see each of them in at least one, I'm sure they'll understand. Maybe you could watch the first two do a dance or two and then go to the other room to see your third dancer.

Good luck! Make sure to let us know the results!

[Dancing Dutchman]

At the last Irish Open my teacher had the same problem. There were two rooms where there was dancing and I was in one room with another girl from my school and in the other room there was another girl and boy from the school (both in the same age group) so he had to run between these two rooms. He was lucky that we didn't have to dance at the very same time so he could see all of us.

So look which number they are so you know when they have to dance (in the beginning or the end of the age group) so you can walk from one room to another.

[FGHClub2012]

having three children competing for the first time - my thoughts are with you. It's been hard enough for me taking our U7 and trying to referee her two sibling sisters "irish" twins who are not dancing yet. Had I seen this post sooner, I would have recommended 1) go to a feis to observe first; 2) then let each of the girls compete in three separate feisianna so that you could give each first feis'r your undivided attention. Now that this response is late and that your daughters have had a successful start, I hope other families in similar situations take note. Not only that but how do you control emotions if one does outstanding and the others not so outstanding at their first feis. If there are other non-sibling dancers in the family and they have to tag along, feisianna can be like watching water boil if you're not an event participant. Until feis organizers start having a separate make and take area or childcare area (pay as you go), talk to grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. to see if they will stay will the other siblings at home or let them spend the night somewhere as a treat. It makes for a very relaxed day that way!

[irishdancer4life320]

My own opinion,
Let them all compete.
Since they are younger if one goes to a Feis next weekend and not the other they will get extremely jealous even though they might have done one a couple weeks ago.
And 1st feis I assume it would be hectic considering that you dance along with you your daughters!
What I would do is that if your two daughters are competing in the same ballroom watch them and make sure or TRY to get one in first of the line the the other towards the middle.
Then the other daughter who is in the other ballroom tell her to try and line up last so then you can rush over there to see her dance.
It might not work out but if not, tell them that Mommy has to try her best to watch all of you and if not your friends or "helpers" are watching you so dance your best so you have wonderful news to tell mommy.
Once the first feis phase is over I think everything will be a bit easier but for now try to converse with them on how you may or may not watch them.
Best of Luck to you and your daughters at their 1st Feis!