Every class has their clown...

...and in my daughter's dance class --- she is it!

Today was their recital. It was Jocelyn's first ever - so the first time she had ever gotten on stage in public - the first time she's ever been in front of a real crowd... you know what I'm saying!

At first I had no worries. I thought she'd fall into line - do her thing, get her group applause and walk off stage.

Then I made the mistake of going to visit her at intermission before her routine had begun. It was hot. It was late. She had been in the room a long time. She was bored!

So when I went to leave her to go back to my seat, she begged me not to go. Tears washed away the make-up I spent a half hour applying (and 2 hours of begging her to let me do it.)

Well...I finally managed to calm her down and she let me escape back to my seat just before the curtain raised.

Still, I went back to my seat in the front row, my stomach at my feet. "She's going to be horrible," I told everyone as I described the scene I just escaped from.

Soon the lights dimmed, the music began, and suddenly onto the stage emerged pretty in purple all-smiling preschool "ballerinas". So adorable! They came out on their tippy toes... one right after the other - and fell into line, in order, until... the second to last girl came onto the stage.

This girl got to her spot on stage and just stopped. She quizically eyed the audience, found who she was looking for and started to wave.

People thought this apparent disobedience was funny so they started to laugh and clap at the little girl. This totally egged the little girl on. She thought the applause and cheers were for her so she started to bow. Over and over and over again, now at center stage. This caused the audience to roar.... so the little girl bowed some more.

Through my tears of laughter, I tried to gesture to the little girl to go back to her routine, but I don't think she listened. She just kind of did her own thing and once or twice got into the group and did what she was supposed to.

Needless to say, in my eyes, this little girl waving and bowing to everyone's delight was the highlight of the show.

Anyone wanna guess what this little girl's name is? I'll give you a hint. It starts with a J and ends with an N :-)

Cheers,
S.
(Proud mommy of "that little girl")

PS I wonder what the other mommies are thinking now... OY!

When did I become *HER*

2 and a half hours into my 3 year old's dress rehearsal for her first dance recital, my friend and I looked at each other in disbelief.

We had been sitting for hours watching girls get up and dance, each time cattily recognizing each girl's excessive bust, butt or flaws.

"She's way too fat to be wearing that."

"Does she think she is actually good?"

"Her mother should just give up!"

And when our 3 year olds got up on stage, as cute as could be, they just stood there. Staring into space. Occasionally doing what I think was a dance move I paid up the wazzoo for her to learn.

& then the other mothers laughed and snickered. And with my dagger eyes I shot them a glance that simply said, "Yea well your 13 year old isn't any better!"

When did I become that bitchy mother?

I guess it was the day I signed my daughter up for dance.

Live and learn.

Cheers, S.