Stepping into dance class

I signed Squeak up for dance classes last fall. For the first three classes I giggled so hard as I watched what had to be the cutest class ever. The girls were just so cute in their dance outfits learning about ballet.  

By June, I didn't think it was cute any more. I was stressed. Just buying the tickets for her dance recital was stressful. I couldn’t believe there were so many rules. Dance is a whole other world.

Squeak is four. I thought her recital would be small and cute, but I was so wrong. She had to perform in front of thousands of people on a huge stage. I was taken aback.

When I was a kid I didn't try out for dancing. It just wasn't my thing.

So I had no idea what I had signed her up for at all. It turned out that even though I was stressed trying to figure out where I had to go, photo shoots, hair buns, costume, lipstick and all, I think I would do it again.

Squeak loved every, single moment. It was her time to shine, she worked hard in class all year, learned the dance routine and she performed it on stage. She was so proud. I would do it all again because she loved it. 

When parents face something new and out of our comfort zone we, are stressed and don't know how to cope. By following all the rules and regulations and with lots of help from all the other mothers who felt the same way, I got through it.

Shari Nelson is an advertising sales rep at City Parent and a contributor to the magazine's social media, including Facebook and Twitter. She has a background in Early Child Care Education, a 4-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old dog. She aspires to own chickens and a goat – maybe a farm one day, a dream she shares with her amazing and talented husband.