The Ballet Lesson

Yesterday we had one of those experiences that we will remember forever. Certainly it was the highlight of our parenting adventure thus far.

See, for months our daughter has been talking nonstop about ballet. She thinks about it constantly. She asks to wear her “ballet” dress almost every single day. She is constantly asking us to watch her ballet poses. She loves reading books like Angelina Ballerina and Olivia Dances for Joy.

So for Christmas this year, we decided to get her a ballet outfit – a leotard, tights and a tutu. We told her that she was going to take ballet lessons. Of course, she was beside herself.

Now, realistically, we figured that, like pretty much every new thing in her life so far, she’d be excited up to the point of actually doing it, and then when it came time to participate, she’d say no. See, we had tried Tumbling Tots at the YMCA. She cautiously participated in a few activities but mostly had to be coaxed into doing anything. Swimming lessons were the same way. She talks about it all day long, but when it comes to actually participating, she flat out refuses. Even on playgrounds at the park, she’s hesitant to do anything new.

So that was what we expected at her first ballet class.

We were blown away when what we got was this…

She absolutely came alive.

She literally couldn’t take her eyes off her teacher.

She copied everything her teacher showed her. And she did it well.

And for almost the entire 45 minutes she had the biggest smile on her face.

She was the happiest we’ve ever seen her.

And watching the pure delight on our daughter’s face? My husband said it best … “I’ve never felt joy like that before.”