Dance of a Mother

By Megan

Bean danced all weekend in her very first dance recital, times two — my first-born, tall and proud young bone and muscle beside me but still so fluffy-tiny against the backdrop of the cavernous high school stage. I watched her performances breath-held-chest-puffed, my heart beating out cartoon flowers and stars, my eyes filled with happy, mushy, sparkly Mama tears. Every good and perfect gift leaping and spinning away, right there on two sturdy mini-me legs.

I see my daughter, her bright face, her long, lean limbs, her energy and spark, her flair for the dramatic, and I imagine her years from now, having replaced polka dots and bows with pink velvet and sequins, graceful and elegant, each tilt of her head, every curve of her a river of grace and talent, and the crowd going wild. Yet that is only my dream, was once for me but now in the darkness of the audience it draws the promising breath of my daughter’s youth, coughs prettily and comes to life again – wants to wrap itself around this girl so much prettier, so much more confident than her mother was.

And so begins the fragile pas de deux, not between mother and daughter, but between a mother’s big little-girl dreams and her budding grown-up wisdom. Encourage but not push, teach discipline and determination without taking over, support passion without trampling excitement – these delicate moves choreographed perfectly make the dance of a mother whose children can explore life freely, fail resiliently and pursue their natural talents with joy.

Photobucket

Megan also blogs at FriedOkra.

5 Responses to Dance of a Mother
  1. Stephanie
    June 14, 2010 | 10:18 am

    Oh my goodness, the polka dots.

    Steph

  2. Melissa
    June 14, 2010 | 10:30 am

    Do you teach mothering dance classes? Because I want to learn to dance like you!! Balance is hard -whatever kind of dance you’re doing.
    The photo and the post are both beautiful.

  3. Hannah
    June 14, 2010 | 6:04 pm

    I experienced some of those same feelings during my own daughter’s first recital a year ago. It’s really a rite of passage for both mother and daughter, isn’t it?

  4. Tanya
    June 16, 2010 | 5:13 pm

    Two years ago my daughter became a jr instructor after many recitals, competition and other showings I was under the false impression that I could handle it. I watched my daughter make the routine, pick out uniforms and music. Lead and teach a group of girls not much younger than she was, half way thru the season D was ready to quite of course we talked and she decided to stick it out. The time came for competition and this Mom thought I was an old pro after all the years little did I know that I would ball like it was her very first recital. And in a way it was since it was the first group of girls she taught. Each recital/competition is special in their own way enjoy them and treasure them.

    Tanya

  5. Psyllium
    April 1, 2012 | 9:05 am

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