Setting obtainable yearly goals is not just something Penny Moisson wants to teach her daughter, Lizzie. Penny also wants to show Lizzie how to obtain her goals each year, and that she will be right there beside her as they work together.
“Zig Ziglar said, ‘If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time,” Moisson quoted. “So that’s a philosophy I have as we go into a new year. We want to plan ahead, set some goals and write them down.”
In Jan., Penny and Lizzie decided one of their goals would be to try out for a play. A few weeks earlier, the pair watched A Bah Humbug Production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Penny’s friend, Angela Schneider, who is the Vice-President of Bah Humbug Productions, mentioned Lizzie would have been a good angel in the play.
Schneider and Moisson connected over Facebook, but as newly elected President of the MS-PTO, Moisson wasn’t sure she could commit a lot of time to the play.
“I think when you set tangible goals, it makes it easier for you to know what you’re aiming for,” Moisson said. “Life gets busy. Otherwise, another year would just pass by.”
Second grade student, Lizzie thought she may be good at acting because she can memorize lines in songs easily. As “Sharon” in the “Miracle on 34th Street,” Lizzie has two lines, but already has much of the play memorized.
Lizzie helped Penny practice her lines for the “Bag Lady” and “Sharon’s mother” by prompting her mom with lines surrounding her parts.
“I’m realizing this could be something she wants to grow into more,” Penny said.
Penny also said this is a lifelong dream for her. As a kid she stood in front of a mirror, acting things out. She also participated in elementary school and church plays, but was never a part of drama club because she was involved in athletics.
“Now that Lizzie has taken an interest, I think this would be an awesome thing for us to do together,” she said.
While parents are usually take on the authority role in a parent to child relationship, Lizzie has been able to watch her mom respond to ideas and corrections from the play’s directors.
“We’re learning together,” she said. “It’s been a growing opportunity for both of us.”
Penny and Lizzie will perform in “Miracle on 34th Street” at the Parkland College Theatre on Dec. 19, 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. They will also be in the afternoon matinees on Dec. 21 and 22 at 3 p.m.
