Conflicted about My Kids

I am in a real quandary here, folks, and I need some help. It involves a couple of my children.

First, my oldest son, Matt, has just gotten an offer letter from MIT. They are giving him a full ride scholarship and a generous stipend to go to MIT and be a masters/doctoral student for the next few years and to be a research assistant.

That is all well and good, of course, but I have a real issue with this. It's the M in MIT. It stands for Massachusetts and is in the Boston area. Boston, as you may well know, is the source of all evil in the world - home of the Boston Red Sox.

Can I support my son as he moves to Babylon, to the seat of world evil? It is a tough choice.

Now, my youngest son, Ben, also presents me with a difficult choice. When he came to me as a freshman and said, "I'm quitting basketball next year to concentrate on Show Choir" - I gave him his freedom - ignoring the knife in my back. It worked out pretty well, getting him a full-ride music scholarship.

But next week, he is performing at Morningside College in a night of OPERA. Yes, folks, I said OPERA!

Here's the question: am I expected, as a father, to attend a night of opera music to support my son. I sat through hours and hours of show choir. Haven't I done enough?

Someone, please, give me some good advice.

Some YouTubes of Ben

Here are some videos of Ben performing. I wish I knew how to put these things in here, but these are links to YouTube videos

His solo in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg8cLA7ASQs&feature=channel_page

His performance in "Les Mis" which won the banner (state championship) in musical theatre - this is a practice performance, but its the only one I've got. He's in the gray pants and black shirt - the narrator at the beginning and first soloist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vju7rHAvukQ

Soloist on this one is Matt Walker, but Ben is mugging and dancing. I just loved the dance sequences, so it goes up here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr25bXLZUX0&feature=channel_page

Here, he's Corny Collins in "Nicest Kids in Town" in East High Headliners, his show choir.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL-dN1fLo7c&feature=channel