Miscellaneous Notes [Essay] A 40-Minute Reward Each Way

Hello, or good evening. I'm Marin.
I went to my third child's choral festival.

Yesterday was my third child's choral festival.
I got dressed up at a time when I would normally be lounging around and headed to the junior high school.

Starting with the second-year students' chorus, every class let their energetic singing voices ring out.

My child has a developmental disability and a mild intellectual disability. This time, they participated in a general education class.

They don't seem to like singing very much, and they walked along sluggishly with a hunched back, as if to say, "I wish this would end already." That image was truly memorable.

Even so—they are properly facing things they dislike. That fact warmed the depths of my heart.

Perhaps my tear ducts had broken down too, as I listened while crying my eyes out. The joy of their growth and the harmony created by everyone all felt perfect, and my heart was filled with emotion.

It was only a one-hour performance, but it was such a valuable moment that it made the 40-minute walk each way feel completely insignificant.

Next year, they will surely show me a different view.
I am already looking forward to that moment.