Finding Inspiration
He stood in the middle of the stage, a broom in one hand and darkness surrounding the other. A single spotlight shone down as he swept the dust back and forth.
Swish.
Swish.
Tap.
Swish.
Swish.
Tap.
Alexis sat mesmerized. She didn't know what to expect of the show, but that didn't really matter. The girl was born with music in her heart, rhythm flowing through her blood, and a tune in her head.
Swish.
Swish.
Tap.
Swish.
Swish.
Tap.
"Momma, he did a Slap Step!" she whispered. Hundreds of dollars in dance lessons has done something. The kid can identify tap dance steps.
The man with the broom was joined by another man with another broom.
Swish. Swish.
Swish.
Tap. Tap.
Swish. Swish.
Swish.
Tap. Tap.
And another man. And another man. Alexis wiggled in her seat, again and again. Her heart couldn't ignore the tune being played with some brooms and dust. She wanted to dance with the crowd of men standing on stage.
And then the men were joined by someone new.
"Momma! Look! It's a girl!" Alexis squeal-whispered. She was completely smitten with the one female on stage.
"MOMMA! Now there are two girls!" Alexis squeal-whispered a little louder a few moments later. She was overjoyed to see that there were women in the show ... role models ... females she can look up to.
Alexis is looking for women to be her role models. It happens every day in her every interaction. She's trying to figure out where women fit in this world. She wants to know what they can do, how they should act, how powerful they can be.
Here's to hoping I'm doing an OK job of teaching her that the sky's the limit.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Reader Comments (5)
What show were you at?
I'm so glad you were able to take her! My son and I LOVE Stomp.
I don't know you. I only read your blog. And because of that I will say that if your blog is an honest interpretation of your lives (and I'm sure it is because you can't make this stuff up) I have no doubt that Alexis is well aware that the sky is the limit and it's because of what you're teaching her. :)
I'm going to Stomp on Sunday! can't wait. we go every year!! I never thought to take my own kiddo. She's the same age as yours. It wasn't too loud for her I take it?
It is scary and awesome all at the same time, isn't it? Gracie's 3rd gr teacher (who she had last year, too) just won the Math Award for Teaching Excellence for the entire district. Do you have any idea how much I love that Gracie has ZERO understanding that our culture thinks girls aren't supposed to be good at math and science? Love that our girls know you can be smart AND kind AND pretty all at the same time. Their choices are limitless because we tell them so.