My Two Left Foots

By Michael

Susan was the worst dancer in the room, maybe the worst in the world. It was retreat weekend for the show choir, when the students got together to learn how to move as a synchronized, rhythmic beast. Think Glee, but with three times as many kids.

I was there with my cameras—video and still—to record the first performances of the year and, to my ridiculously professional and unbiased eye, she was the best performer in the room. Maybe the best in the universe.

Afterwards, she was unsettled. She made so many mistakes, she was so clumsy, she didn’t sing right, the coach was going to move her back behind the risers where nobody could see her…..I think she mentioned something about quitting school and leaving the country, but I’m not completely sure.

Of course, I was thinking this is the first set of rehearsals after summer break and nobody broke a leg, so it’s a good start.I said I thought she was great, which didn’t matter to her because I wasn’t the teacher, but I had to say it anyway, because I’m her dad. Then I told her I didn’t think her teacher would penalize her, because it was only the first rehearsal of the year. I told her there would be many opportunities to demonstrate her skill as the year progressed.

I think it had some effect, for the better. Then another student came up and asked what I thought. I said Susan and I were just talking about some of the mistakes in the performance. “Did you see?” he asked. “I was awful.” Apparently, he thought we were talking about him, not about Susan.

She was calmer after that, at least for a while, with the recognition that everyone was a little rusty and very self-critical after summer break. And I still have the video. She was the best one.

Michael Rosenbaum is 5 Minutes for Parenting’s first dadblogger. He is a business consultant, playwright and author of Your Name Here: Guide to Life.

Michael blogs on life issues at Your Name Here Guide to Life and manages the Adult Conversation discussion group on Linked-In.

One Response to My Two Left Foots
  1. pikalaina ota
    April 14, 2012 | 4:09 pm

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