Okay, I have to share a very annoying experience that occurred at ballet.
Since big sister Sarah has Hip Hop right after Kate's ballet class, we all go together and each kid brings a couple toys to occupy herself while her sister has class. Last week sweet little Sarah was quietly playing with her barbies in the back of the gym behind the bleachers where the all little ballerinas could not see, when she was accosted by a bitchy mom who's swan princess could not resist the ping of all the siblings gameboys. She caught a glimpse of Sarah's dolls and asked to play. The snotty mom, said "Oh, that's it - now she won't go back to class at all!!" Then she turns to another parent (as if we violated an unwritten rule of parks and rec ballet) and says "There's dolls here!!!! She won't want to go back now, she'll just want to play!!!!"
Are you kidding me? This is Parks and Rec ballet - six sessions cost $11. If you want rules go to a ballet studio!!! [Sorry, I'm a bit moody adjusting to these new thyroid pills.] Seriously though, there were 6 other siblings there, playing with gameboys or power rangers or running up and down the stage stairs. Sarah was out of view from the class and was only caught by the little Magellan because the kid wasn't with the class anyway.
Being the mom of a "spirited" child myself, and a good Samaritan, I asked my daughter to put the dolls away and read her book. But the !!?#$??! mom would not let it go. For 25 minutes she just kept saying "it's the dolls . . ."
Get over it lady!!!!
I held my tongue at class but I just need to say this:
To all you moms and dads out there who can't control your little divas - I too have a free spirited child. My daughter was the one in Gymboree who would not do the lap rides. She was the one on the center of the parachute leading the songs. And I remeber being so self conscious - thinking she was the only child on the planet who would not conform and follow the teacher! For a time I thought it was something I was doing wrong . . . but I quickly learned.
We pulled her out of ballet class (twice) because she wanted to do her own interpretive dance. This same child was the only kid in Miss Kristy's 3 year old class who, upon entering preschool each morning, immediately donned some sort of costume - every school day for the entire year.
Moms, trust me when I say we ALL have those moments with our little ones. Any mom who would judge you - or your child - because they aren't conforming with the more "mellow" kids has not raised a child with this personality. Don't listen if anyone tells you that your a bad parent because your kid would rather play dolls than wait while 15 other three year olds show their "pizza" position. I beg you mommies don't spaz out if someone brings dolls to ballet class and your ballerina is distracted by them.
That ability to not-conform will afford your little darling some wonderful experiences. My little free spirit, at just five, has enjoyed some unique experiences because of her spicy personality. She was the child chosen the lead the class in a song when her kindergarten teacher had to leave the room in an emergency. Why, because she's not a conformer (nice word huh??) She was invited to be in the Dillards fashion show because the clerks remembered her. That day she was the only model who received applause. She's the only kid I know who can invite 25 kids to her birthday party and ALL 25 will attend, three years in a row. She's the kind of kid who, at five years old, will strut on stage and take a thirty second bow when she receives recognition for reading at the schools weekly assembly. And after two years of not-conforming in Gymboree she was personally invited by the franchise owner to attend summer camp - because she "just makes the class so fun!"
Sure raising a child with such a strong personality can be a challenge, but there is no need to freak out and blame the kids lack of attention in ballet on someone else. I still have those moments with my little free bird but I see unlimited potential in her because she knows what she wants and she's not afraid to go for it.
Of course we all want our little monkeys to behave and show respect for us, their teachers and classmates. But really, is the eleven dollar parks and rec ballet class worth spazzing out over?
Maybe you should give Hip Hop a try . . .
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