How Alexis Got Her Groove Back
It has been a minute or two since it started, but Alexis consistently asked to quit dance several times over the span of a few weeks. She wanted to finish out the year and everything, but no more after that.
Which, whatever. If she wants to quit, fine. But, it seemed shady, so I asked questions.
After a bit of discussion, it came out that the reason she wanted to quit dance was so that she could "focus on cheerleading."
<insert the DJ scratching a record here>
THAT was an entirely different situation. I figured it wasn't worth any sort of debate at the moment, though. Instead, I signed the kid up for a couple of fall dance classes and went about my business. If she decided to stick with her decision to quit, I could cancel the registrations. If not, I had things lined up anyway. Either way, I was covered.
Fast forward to her recital.
First there was the awesome hair.
It made for a very happy Alexis.
Then there was the fan club. I wasn't sure if I would be able to make the recital or not, so a couple of friends were awesome enough to offer to go. They went even though I was there and it TOTALLY made Alexis' day. She thinks highly of our chosen people, and she was truly over the moon that they drove from hours away to watch her shake her booty. Alexis spotted her fan club during her second performance and the look on her face was AMAZING.
She was a very happy Alexis.
But then there was also something that I can't name. I don't know what it was. It could be one thing or a combination of many things, I just don't know. Maybe it was the joy of performing? The magic of being on stage? The reward of being able to show a huge audience what you've accomplished? Truly, I'm not sure.
What I am sure about is that after the show, I went backstage to pick up Alexis. Not ten seconds later, she started asking questions.
"Is that a competitive dance team that did that one routine?"
"How old do you have to be to be on the competitive team?"
"Can you sign me up for the competitive team AND for jazz AND for hip hop next year?"
We'll see what she thinks once the summer has gone by, but as it stands right now, Alexis got her groove back. She's ALL in on dance again, to the point that she has been watching her prior recital DVDs on repeat, practicing routines in the family room for hours on end, and talking nonstop about how fun it all is.
Welcome back, Tiny Dancer.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Reader Comments (4)
See, these things work themselves out like they're supposed, too!
You are such a patient and wonderful Mom letting her find her own way!!
Her hair IS awesome! Your house sound like a really fun place to be right now. Dancing is awesome! :)
You know what I love about Alexis? (Well one of many things, obvs.) Her world is so big. She loves dance AND cheerleading AND spending time with her people AND hockey AND...AND...AND. She is not a one-love-and-only-one-love kinda person. And that, I think, is awesome. :)
(And that hair. That hair is awesome, too.)