Yesterday was my daughter's dress rehearsal for the first ever ballet recital! We had the actual performance this morning. I sat in the audience of 200 or so proud, beaming parents as their children danced to a variety of songs. Bows were lost, shoes came off, cues were missed, amid many missteps and forgotten routines. But, if you ask any parent who was in attendance, it was perfectly flawless!

Following up on the Mother-Daughter Bonding idea from yesterday, my daughter (obviously) loves dance. She was entranced last year when we took her to see The Nutcracker for the first time. I, too, loved ballet at her age. In fact, I took ballet (and later tap) from the time I was five until I was sixteen years old. I danced in my share of recitals, and remember the thrill of dressing in beautiful costumes, bustling to and fro to rehearsals and dress rehearsals, and then the countdown to performance. I remember my family sitting in the audience and my third grade teacher, who diligently came to performances long after I left her classroom.

Being with my daughter today and seeing all of that up close again was nostalgic. It was also my first time seeing it through a mother's eyes. She was thrilled to be on the stage, but clearly nervous. She loved getting dressed up, and loved that her oldest brother presented her a bouquet from all of us!

The whole ordeal hasn't thrown her off one bit, and she's looking forward, with enthusiasm, toward this Fall when she begins the rehearsal/recital cycle all over again. Though, this time, though we may again return for our yearly trek to see The Nutcracker, she will also realize her dream of performing in it with her local Park and Recreation class.

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