So, as far as Atticus and even Grace so far, I had not put them in any extracurricular activities. I just didn't want to push either of them and add to our schedule when Atticus is pretty hesitant about new things and Grace has just been too young. So, with Atticus at age 3, I did nothing extra except start him in preschool. This past year, because of wanting to help Grace with her speech, I put her in preschool (so a year earlier than Atticus began). Although with totally age appropriate behavior of tears here and there during dropoff, she loved it so much! She talked about her friends and her teacher all the time and what she did. So, after the end of the school year, I knew I wanted to enroll her in a toddler dance class. She loves to sing and dance at home so I thought she would enjoy it this fall while Atticus was in Kindergarten. The summer progressed and she started hesitating preschool beginning and then I took her to get her dress attire for class a few weeks ago and she threw the biggest fit ever and was screaming inside the store fighting us trying her clothes on. Embarrassing, frustrating, confusing, sad. It was so frustrating because I totally did not HAVE to put her in dance; I just thought it would be fun. But, she has had a couple episodes this summer of "getting scared" of preschool and a playdate with some girls from church and I wasn't sure if this was that or that she was really going to dislike dance. I mean, she is only 3 and I don't want to push, but I'd also already paid for her to sign-up and really thought she would like it (just like preschool) once she was there. So, since the day of getting her tutu dress and shoes, we have talked a lot about it. We go from one extreme of being excited about twirling to another extreme of it being too scary. And all of this is based on nothing because she really doesn't know what dance class is. Anyways, I've been cautious when I bring it up. It seems if we put too much focus on something or people around her that are not me and Vic put her on the spot, then she can just lose it. I know I know. 3 years old. And I have learned that no matter what kind of parent you want to be, there is NO forcing a 3 year old to do things every time. Bribing, negotiating, pleading and sometimes just having a lucky day may convince them, but counting on it "just because you said so" does not work. At least not yet with Grace and me. So, today, we had our first dance class. Here is how it went.
We have talked about it a lot and I've focused more on "we get to meet your dance teacher this week!" because she loves talking about her preschool teacher. I showed her a picture of her online and when there was a rule (like wearing your dance tutu or shoes), I would tell her that her teacher told us to do that. So, we woke up this morning, got Atticus to school and started talking about our morning and when we needed to get dressed, etc. Everything was in our favor today. She refused and then gave in easily to putting on tights, tutu and trying on both shoes. She got excited to do her hair in a bun and then LOVED the way she looked. We took photos outside and she twirled and really loved the noise her tap shoes made. She was completely ready to go. So, we get to the studio, get out of the car and....she sees "another ballerina" and "needs to go tell her hi!". There were 15 girls in her class. They were ALL dressed in pink tutu dresses of course. And she loved that. When it was time to go in the room, I was expecting her to cry or cling to me, but she took her dance bag and went right in and sat down with the group. And then...she had a great time! They have TV's in the studio lobby. You can just barely pick out which dancer is yours, but I could. I couldn't see her facial expressions, but she was dancing and jumping and tapping and twirling and following instructions and holding hands with the other girls when she had to. I was just getting happier and happier! When she came out, she was SO excited to first show me her Cinderella sticker they gave out and THEN she said "Mommy, can I please go to dance class every day?" and then she didn't stop talking. She talked to another little girl who was looking at her baby and she told me that she held her hand in her dance class and she was her new best friend and could she come over and play at our house? And she didn't take a breath while talking. She asked me if she could stay in her dress all day and wear it every day and never go to preschool but just dance class again? It was so great. I was so relieved. Even if we have days where she cries or doesn't want to go for some reason, we got through the first one, had a great experience and she wants to go back. I think it might be a great year! Now, the first time she falls or gets embarrassed or something, it might be tough. But, she was definitely comfortable today! Praise the Lord!
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