Little Dancer

My five year old Julia is a dancer. She's been going to dance class for about two years now and really enjoys it. Tonight, she performed a song (Jingle Bell Rock) in a Christmas Show and made her mommy proud.

She didn't know the dance very well.
She wasn't very confident.
She actually ended up stepping back to dance behind the girl that was next to her - perhaps feeling more comfortable in the girl's shadows or just feeling squished on stage.
She only learned the dance twice before the performance - the first time she was taught the dance was about 3 weeks ago and the second time was just last Saturday.
I have terrible photography skills.
I have even worse videography skills.
I didn't put "Jingle Bell Rock" on at home so that she could practice her steps.
I didn't remind her smile or have straight arms or pointy toes.
I didn't take a picture of her before the show.
I certainly wasn't going to wait around after the show for group pictures (as was requested by the teachers... but honestly? I just wanted to get the heck out of there).


I may not be the best dance mom. I may not have the most skilled little dancer.

But, I was certainly proud tonight. And so was my dancer. We both had fun - as did the six other family members that paid money to watch the one song that Julia got to perform.

She enjoyed it.

And watching her enjoy it, made me fill with joy. And pride.  If you know Julia at all - you know how shy she can be - how quiet and shy she really is.  But when she's in "game mode" she's a whole different person filled with pride and joy and contentment... even if she still has her shy tendencies.  She's proud of herself, and joyful.

And I wouldn't give that up for anything!

I'm so proud of my little dancer!