Raising A Dancer

Tonight, I watched my beautiful Rosie girl on stage - tapping her heart out. They ran their dance twice and both times, she brought tears to my eyes.

Early in the dance year, her teacher and the studio owner recognized that her abilities surpassed those of the other girls in her tap class. The decision was made to move her into a different tap class - one with older and more advanced girls. She was less than thrilled to make the move. It would mean new people and more challenges, but I believed it was worth it.

Her second week of her new tap class, she came home crying. She was the youngest in her class and she was being picked on. The "company" girls (who are just mean girls in tutus) were shunning her from their little group. She wantged to quit.

We talked about it for a while that night and ultimately decided to stick it out a while longer. Once she went to bed, I emailed her teacher and asked for guidance. The response was immediate - Rosie belonged in this class and could absolute do everything they were learning.

For most of November and December, my Friday afternoons included a major pep-talk and my nights were filled with chatter of what the mean girls did this week. Every now and then, she would convince me to pick up donuts or cookies - so she could "bribe" these little bitches and get them to be nice to her. As a parent, this was tough. I didn't want her to feel the need to bribe this nasties...but at the same time, I just wanted my kid to fit in and have a positive experience.

Despite feeling discouraged, she stuck it out. She didn't miss a week. She worked hard. She rejoiced when the leader of the mean girls was no longer going to be in her class. She quietly worked on steps in her head. She continually told me that she couldn't do it and I would repeatedly tell her that she could.

Tonight, as I watched my baby on stage, all I could think was "this was worth it." Her poise and skill level has improved more than I ever imagined or expected.  She was the smallest kid on stage - but she had the biggest smile and her tap sounds were strong and confident.

My Rosie girl makes me proud pretty much always - but tonight was a whole new level. Tonight's rehearsal performance was proof of her moxie. She has a gift within her. She is wise and talented beyond her ten years. It may have been hard work and at times discouraging - but it was worth every moment and it shows!