The Post Listen to Your Mother Post

Listen To Your Mother: The Show

Last Thursday for the first time in my life I stood on a stage as a WRITER and “performed” an essay in front of around 500 people.

And I survived!

My heart was pounding in my chest as the two fantastic cast members ahead of me went up one by one. Soon it was my turn. Without falling, I walked up the rail-less, narrow stairs in my heels, which I took as a good omen. I started my first paragraph by keeping my eyes on the page and not looking into the terrifying mass of faces in front of me. (With the lighting as it was, it really did look like a mass of something instead of individual people.)

Up On Stage

Then, as if possessed by a deep, dark stage monster I never knew I had inside of me, I looked up towards the audience here and there. I started ad-libbing here and there. I could feel myself relax and speak more directly into the microphone. I could feel myself smiling and hitting my stride. It was frightening as hell and exhilarating at the same time. I felt like a real writer, which seems to be a statement (or a question) I often repeat both on this blog and in my head. Am I writer? I AM a writer. Am I writer? I AM a writer. It goes on and on like that. But last Thursday night, I didn’t question the title once.

One of my favorite parts of the entire night was watching each cast member perform. I held my breath through each one, willing the moment to be great for everyone. And it really was a monumental night for each of us.

But of all the aspects of this show that moved me on a personal level, I was perhaps most touched by the genuine support of my family and friends. My mom came in from Chicago for a quick trip just to see the show and many of our in-town family members cheered me on in the audience as well. As I’ve mentioned on the blog before, we live in Bryan’s hometown, not mine. That his cousins, parents, and siblings treat me as if they’ve known me all of my life is not something I take for granted. They are our family. Our cousins and so on.

Appreciating My Friends

I’ve mentioned before how hard it was for me to make friends when we first moved to Minneapolis 13 years ago. I wish I could go back and talk to that insecure, lonely 23-year-old version of me and show her the friends who would come to support her on May 9th, 2013. These friends who came all have young kids and are pulled in numerous directions including T-ball and soccer games in the evenings and jobs and a million things to do, but they found a way to be in the audience that night. (My mom was also incredibly touched by their show of support.) There were also members of my book club who came, as well as some of my writing friends, who really had to schlep in from over an hour away in traffic to be there. I was blown away by everybody’s generosity of time, which is perhaps the commodity that feels most precious to me so I assume it’s true for many others as well.

I want to thank Galit, Vikki, Heather, and Tracy for directing and producing Listen to Your Mother in the Twin Cities for the first time. It’s no small task to completely create a show from scratch. And of course I want to thank Listen to Your Mother’s founder, Ann Imig for envisioning a scenario in which 12-15 women would read essays about motherhood and something like 500+ people would show up in city after city (and on YouTube!) to watch and listen. (The YouTube link will be up at some point this summer, and of course I will display it loud and proud on a new blog post when it does.)

For now–a few pictures!

Nina Badzin. On the way to Listen to Your Mother Show 2013 with my four kids
Right before Bryan, and my mom, and I left for the show. (He’s taking the picture!) I felt the kids were too young to sit through the whole show.

Nina Badzin. Listen to Your Mother. 2013 in front of the marquee

 

LTYM Twin Cities cast 2013, photograph courtesy of Jennifer Liv Photography
LTYM Twin Cities cast 2013, photograph courtesy of Jennifer Liv Photography
Photo at Listen to Your Mother show 2013 via Jennifer Liv Photography
Photo at Listen to Your Mother show 2013 via Jennifer Liv Photography
photo of my mom in the audience of listen to your mother
That’s MY proud mother!

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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

37 Responses

  1. You read your piece beautifully and it was such a pleasure to watch you tell your story. Thank you!

  2. We loved having you so much, Nina. Thank you for sharing your I AM A WRITER gift with us. It was a magical night, THANKS to all of you. I love the photo of your mom!!!

    xo
    Heather recently posted..Just Write {85}My Profile

  3. Oh Nina..reading this brought me right back to the Riverview, right back to that magical night. I love this! I loved getting to know you and all of our amazing castmates.

    This was such a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m so glad to have taken it with someone like you.

    Jenny

  4. I totally know that heart-pounding, terrifying feeling before going on stage. Wow, what a tremendous accomplishment! And I loved reading about all the people in your life who showed up to support you. Congratulations!

  5. Oh my goodness you ARE a writer.
    I’m so proud of you.

    And ever since this year’s Academy Awards, I’ve reminded myself that if I ever get up to speak in public and fall on the stairs, Jennifer Lawrence did it first and was adorable.

    So.

    I’m glad you didn’t break a leg – but instead had a most fabulous (once-in-a-lifetime) experience.

    In only wish I lived close enough to schlep there myself.
    I would have.

    I would.

  6. You were great and I was so glad to be there. I find it so interesting that it was public speaking that made you feel like a writer….as opposed to writing!

  7. I am so thrilled you had such a great experience! I really related to your description of relaxing on stage, loosening up, and enjoying yourself. I was very grateful that once I walked up there, I felt at ease, and like I belonged. I felt a little teary reading about the friends and family that were there to support you- my mom flew in to surprise me for my show, and having her, my brother, my husband, and a large handful of friends cheering for me when I walked onstage was one of the most empowering moments of my LTYM experience. I am so glad to hear that yours was everything you’d hoped for! Congrats, and I can’t wait until the YouTube channel is up and running this summer!
    Stephanie Sprenger recently posted..What I’d Like To Tell My Childless Friends, But Won’tMy Profile

  8. How incredible Nina! So proud of you – you look AMAZING too! I wish we had known about this, next time let us at PB know, we would LOVE to come and support you!

  9. You looked gorgeous, Nina, but what warms my heart the most is the look of pride on your children’s faces. That, to me, is proof that we must fulfill ourselves (as you are doing) to show them they can also be fulfilled. Way to go, Mama! We love “listening” to you! Xx
    Jolina Petersheim recently posted..Hello, My Name Is . . .My Profile

  10. GO Nina! I’m so happy to hear it went great. I knew you’d rock it 😉

    There’s nothing quite like that on-stage fear that soon melts away to become a complete performance rush. I used to experience it all the time when I was a dancer, but I expect to be much more terrified when the time comes to use my voice. I’ll remember this post when I need some courage.
    Natalia Sylvester recently posted..On Writing Without a MapMy Profile

  11. Congratulations on a job well done. It is not easy to look out into an audience of 500 (!) people, but it sounds like you’re a natural.

    I can’t remember if you already mentioned this — was the essay you read an original piece for this show, or something you’d previously written?

    I’m looking forward to the video!
    Jackie Cangro recently posted..Friday FiveMy Profile

  12. You are a great writer and I’m very impressed. Love the name of the conference – you are a VERY cute mama. I just love all those kids. I’m sure they will always be sure to listen to YOU. Right??

  13. So many cool people at LTYM Twin Cities.

    I’m missing some really fun events way over here. 🙂

    And I agree with the poster above – you’re a very cute mama. 🙂
    Lady Jennie recently posted..When You FallMy Profile

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

DEAR NINA: Conversations About Friendship is a podcast and newsletter about the ups and downs of adult friendship. I’m the host, Nina Badzin, a Minneapolis-based writer who accepted a position as a friendship advice columnist in 2014 and never stopped. DEAR NINA, the podcast, started in 2021, and has been referenced in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The Guardian, The Chicago Tribune, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, and elsewhere! 

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