What’s it like to watch your son compete in the National Spelling Bee? -- Jenn's take

Nerve-wracking!

Heart-pounding!

Mind-numbing!

I couldn’t actually look at Jason when he was in front of the mike. I heard him, but I looked down, or around, or anywhere else. It was like a dream. Afterwards, I realized I didn’t have any mental images of Jason at the mike, because I hadn’t looked at him. Thank goodness for cameras and the Leistens’ videocamera.

I admit that my first thought, after he got the bell, was “Oh, now I can relax the rest of the spelling bee!”

One thing I told Jason before round four: “If you miss, do not walk away from the mike when Dr. Bailly is giving you the correct spelling. Look at him until he is done.” At dinner I asked him if he did so, because I didn’t see him. And he did.

Proud mom!