One Direction is the adorable musical group of five guys from the UK taking the world by storm. I am a mother of a teenager daughter who adores them. Here is our story.
March 2012 – I purchase three tickets to see One Direction 15 months in the future. I really hope my daughter Gwen still likes them next June.
June 2012 – Gwen goes to a 1D concert with a friend and the friend’s mom. She comes home beaming, with a voice that sounds like Demi Moore. How will she ever wait another year to see Liam, Harry, Niall, Zayn and Louis? In the meantime she’ll follow them on Twitter.
June 2013 – A few days before the concert, I check to make sure we have earplugs for me to use. And where are those damn tickets?
Concert day, 4:00 pm – It’s showtime! Gwen, her friend and I leave 3 hours early to make sure we are there to watch the opening acts. Earplugs packed, phones charged, and camera memory card is clear. What does a mom wear to a 1D concert? I contemplated writing “Cougars love Harry” on a white t-shirt and wearing it with a pair of Daisy Dukes, but I decided against it.
6:00 pm – The Panera across the street from the venue is woefully understaffed to meet the hungry demands of hundreds of revved up girls and their unfortunate parents. We wait in line, place our order, wait some more, and then eat our meal in take out containers because the one dishwasher couldn’t clean the plates fast enough.
7:30 pm – We’re in. I am amused to see alcohol carts, and not at all surprised that they are doing a swift business with parents. While I’m tempted, I have a long night ahead of me and I am the only one old enough to drive.
7:40 pm – The opening act starts. They are called 5SOS – Five Seconds of Summer. The five seconds stretch to 35 minutes. I am treated to the piercing screams of the little girl behind me and I want to punch her in the throat. I hope she screams herself mute sooner rather than later.
Thirty minutes before showtime. When 1D took the stage, every single seat was filled.
8:20 pm – Break between acts. I venture out in search of the ladies’ room and some candy. I am tempted by the alcohol cart again but I end up going with a $5 bottle of water and peanut m&m’s instead.
8:45 pm – One Direction takes the stage, and I insert my earplugs. Still wanna punch that girl in the throat.
8:45-10:45 pm – I actually enjoy the concert. The boys put on a good show, and I know all the songs because I listen to them ALL THE TIME. I stand up to take video of some songs, and I watch my daughter having the time of her life. I would have done this even if 1D was the worst band ever, because seeing your child deliriously happy is the rare jewel of parenting.
11:30 pm – After riding the wave of concert goers leaving the arena, we are on the road home. Gwen is asleep within 15 minutes and her friend is content to play on her cell phone. I listen to the 80s stations on Sirius radio, and remember what it’s like to be a teenager. Maybe one day Gwen will listen to One Direction as she drives my granddaughter home from her favorite band’s concert. I’ll even buy her the earplugs.
I am taking my 14 year old daughter and her best friend to see “The Boys” (as they call them) next week! (July 31st) in Oakland. The tickets were extrememly expensive (especially when you see the “face value” of the tickets) but I wanted to provide this amazing memory for my daughter! She has been obsessed (oops, I mean DEDICATED) with One Direction since the very begining and has since made me watch every music video, video diary and any other 1D related media ever made! I have to admit, I have become quite a fan myself. I can not wait to sit back and watch her and her best friend of 10 years experience this dream come true. I have promised to be on my best behavior since unfortunately she is at that stage where my breathing incorrectly can cause her dire embarassment…..I may have to throw her the idea of the Courgar shirt just to watch her freak out!! My parent would never have entertained the idea of taking me to see a concert like this! And though it may seem like a stretch to spend that much money, THESE are the memories that will never fade!!
_One excited 1D Mama!!!
I’m excited for you and your daughter! It really is fabulous to be able to provide our kids with these experiences. Has your daughter been watching the new video that came out on Monday? That’s been the highlight of my daughter’s week. Don’t forget your earplugs, and enjoy the show!
Yea we can pretty much recite the new video word for word and have two CD’s with EVERY SONG ever recorded for our road trip!
Ear Plugs are on the list!!
Oh jeez. If you weren’t driving I would say add vodka to the list too. Good luck!
Punch her in the throat…I almost spit out my water as I was reading. Very funny! Dana, I love the way you ended it. Listening to the 80’s knowing it will all be different some day. We all were there once and we all grow up. My 80’s hair appreciated that time moved on!
Ooh, I’d love to see a picture of you from the 80s, Kate!
I absolutely loved your commentary! So engaging and funny! At the risk of sounding trite, I totally felt like I was there! How fun, aside from throat-punch girl! 😉 What a great memory for you all…
Thanks, Stephanie. It was fun, and it was a memory neither of us will ever forget!
Somehow I have managed to so far avoid concerts. Not one of my kids have asked. US Women’s soccer games (or the semi-pro teams) are what my daughter asks for (all the time) and the boys are content to see a Yankees game once in a while. It sounds like I should count my blessings!
I guess it depends on what you like. I’d rather go to a concert or a show than a baseball or soccer game (unless it’s my kid’s game of course!) But the games are probably easier on the ears!
And because “seeing your child deliriously happy is the rare jewel of parenting” is the best quote I’ve seen today and I’ve seen some good ones! Fun account. I don’t know if I could take it, to be honest. For some reason I thought 5SOS stood for “5 seconds of sucky.” I sound like an old grinch.
Ha – they weren’t sucky, but they weren’t who we were there to see. I always feel sorry for opening acts. You could take it, Tamara – in eleven years I’ll be reading a similar post from you. If you can create that awesome Alice in Wonderland party, you can handle taking your teen to a boy band concert!
I learned the earplug lesson a few years ago at the first Miley Cyrus concert.. I did my time and luckily have been able to avoid 1D and JB. But it IS so much fun watching them get so excited. They just love it.. squeals and all!
You’re right – it is wonderful to see your child so happy and excited. It really wasn’t that bad – the getting there and back was the real pain, as was the girl behind us 🙂
Oh Dana! I love it! It’s totally weird that this made me a little teary, right? What a cool mom you are!
Not weird – it made me a little teary too. Writing posts about my kids tends to do that to me!
This reminds me of when I took my daughter and friends to see NSYNC. Ah, great memories! Good decision to forego the “Cougars Love Harry” t-shirt and daisy dukes! I’m sure your daughter appreciates your restraint.
I’m sure everyone in the arena appreciates my restraint, Mo 🙂
You are a good mother! You’re also a freak of nature that you weren’t tempted by the alcohol cart. I don’t know anything about One Direction except that one of them (Harry) is dating Rod Stewart’s daughter who is like 10+ years older than Harry. Celebrity gossip is a bad habit of mine 😉
Yes, Harry is apparently quite the stud who prefers older women. He seems to be many girls’ favorite, and he’s the one in the media the most. And good mother, freak of nature…I’ve been called worse 🙂
Love your account except the part where you lied about not knowing where the tickets were. Xoxo
You got me – I knew exactly where those tickets were. The sky would have fallen if I had lost them!
OMG that last line made me break out into tears woman. my parents brought me to see NKOTB when I was a teen…I am sure I will do the same for Dino…funny how life continues…sniffles.
Wonder what music Dino will love when he’s a teen.
My son has been to the Daughtry concert – my husband took him, and I think he got the better end of the deal!
Oh boy! When they first formed my whole CLASS was into them. Took a lot out of me to remove the posters from the desks! Thanks for sharing, Dana!
Ha – I can imagine a class full of obsessed girls!
I’m in this different phase of my life where I’m too old and not hip enough to know the current music fads but don’t have kids to keep me up to date either. So I am basically clueless 🙂 I do wish you’d wore that outfit though- and posted pictures!
Oh, that would have made for some Wordless Wednesday post, wouldn’t it? Nah, I’d like to keep my readers!
I think you are right and every generation has their “One Direction”. For me it was New Kids on the Block and for my mom, it was The Beatles. Wonder what it will be for my girls, but just like you I will sit through and endure it, because I love them so much and if it makes them happy, then I am, too!! 🙂
Yep, you’ll do it for them because it will make them happy. Just bring the earplugs!
Oh what an awesome memory. you are my hero. How did you pass by the alcohol? I hope you show this post to your daughter the next time she is being a teenager and say SEE WHAT I DID FOR YOU? 🙂
I’m not much of a solo drinker, and I knew one drink would make me sleepy, so the candy was a much better bet! And my daughter subscribes to my blog, so she’ll be reminded of how awesome I am 🙂
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no
Thank you sweetie. You’re the best.