Dance Recital:
What a priceless adventure! Yesterday, JC and I had the privilege to attend Kiley’s First Dance Recital. The first recital for my husband also, since he comes from a family of just boys. Now I on the other hand, had participated in many dance recitals! Looking back, I can admit that I had no idea what I put my mom through during my years of dance. (Thanks Mom!) However, I do know why she did it year after year. Although it may be an emotional roller coaster, the outcome is unimaginably priceless.
It started early with preparing to go…the cameras, hairspray, extra outfits, etc. After arriving, Kiley and I headed straight for the dressing room. The dance company provided the costumes. Kiley’s performance was on Hanukkah (Christmas around the world). She had red tights, a cream dress, red sash, gloves and hair bow. Of course, Kiley’s tights were huge, but luckily we were able to trade with someone else. Her eyes lit up when she saw her friend, Kyra, from daycare. From then on, those two were attached at the hip!
What a priceless adventure! Yesterday, JC and I had the privilege to attend Kiley’s First Dance Recital. The first recital for my husband also, since he comes from a family of just boys. Now I on the other hand, had participated in many dance recitals! Looking back, I can admit that I had no idea what I put my mom through during my years of dance. (Thanks Mom!) However, I do know why she did it year after year. Although it may be an emotional roller coaster, the outcome is unimaginably priceless.
It started early with preparing to go…the cameras, hairspray, extra outfits, etc. After arriving, Kiley and I headed straight for the dressing room. The dance company provided the costumes. Kiley’s performance was on Hanukkah (Christmas around the world). She had red tights, a cream dress, red sash, gloves and hair bow. Of course, Kiley’s tights were huge, but luckily we were able to trade with someone else. Her eyes lit up when she saw her friend, Kyra, from daycare. From then on, those two were attached at the hip!
Kiley and KyraNext, make-up and hair. It really is hard to keep lip gloss on a 2 year old! In fact, it is impossible! She had licked it off in no time! They added a hair piece to her hair so she was able to have a nice bun on her head, just like all the other students. Thank goodness they had someone else there to perfect her up-do. She barely lets me brush it. As I have found out, your own children do better with everyone else, but you. (most of the time)
Photo opportunity. I was amazed at how Kiley walked right up to have her picture taken. She kept asking, “Am I next?” She did an amazing job! Surprisingly, since she hated getting her picture taken in the past. Hopefully, we are over that hump.
Rehearsal: This was tough. I wanted to watch the dress rehearsal, but when I tried to drop Kiley off, her friend, Kyra, started freaking out, crying and wanting her mommy. So I stayed with Kiley. What a little mama she is…she tried and tried to cheer Kyra up. She tried tickling her, talking to her and telling her, “It will be okay!”. However, nothing helped Kyra. In fact when they stood on stage, Kyra wasn’t able to pull it together. Kiley saw her teacher, Ms. Lois, and WATCHED her class perform the routine. When they finished, a big, fat tear fell down Kiley’s cheek. She looked at me and said, “ Mommy, I didn’t dance.” Her tears just fell and she was extremely upset. I was miserable, hot and hormonal! I just couldn’t keep my tears in either. We finally pulled it together. We found dad, and I handed her off. She just need to be with her class. I knew she would do better without us.
Recital: We took our seats, prepared for her to do nothing on stage, if she even made it out onto the stage in the first place. Boy, we were surprised! She came out, waving and saying, “Hi, Mommy!” She was walking all the way up to the front of the stage, we were so worried she was going to fall off. JC was so flustered, that he forgot to record this part of the recital. It was so incredibility cute. Everyone was laughing. She actually did do the dance! What an amazing feeling. We were so proud. She stayed backstage and came out again for the finale.
Rehearsal: This was tough. I wanted to watch the dress rehearsal, but when I tried to drop Kiley off, her friend, Kyra, started freaking out, crying and wanting her mommy. So I stayed with Kiley. What a little mama she is…she tried and tried to cheer Kyra up. She tried tickling her, talking to her and telling her, “It will be okay!”. However, nothing helped Kyra. In fact when they stood on stage, Kyra wasn’t able to pull it together. Kiley saw her teacher, Ms. Lois, and WATCHED her class perform the routine. When they finished, a big, fat tear fell down Kiley’s cheek. She looked at me and said, “ Mommy, I didn’t dance.” Her tears just fell and she was extremely upset. I was miserable, hot and hormonal! I just couldn’t keep my tears in either. We finally pulled it together. We found dad, and I handed her off. She just need to be with her class. I knew she would do better without us.
Recital: We took our seats, prepared for her to do nothing on stage, if she even made it out onto the stage in the first place. Boy, we were surprised! She came out, waving and saying, “Hi, Mommy!” She was walking all the way up to the front of the stage, we were so worried she was going to fall off. JC was so flustered, that he forgot to record this part of the recital. It was so incredibility cute. Everyone was laughing. She actually did do the dance! What an amazing feeling. We were so proud. She stayed backstage and came out again for the finale.
We left exhausted, starving and proud knowing that this just the beginning of our adventure of watching our daughter grow and all the fun, excitement, fear and love that grows with her every day.
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