All She Wants to do is....

Dance, dance, dance......

For the parents that have children in dance classes, I'm sure you must experience the same thing. Although for Mom Jr. and me it just really started this past year.

Okay, I get it with as much time as she invests into dancing she obviously loves it! There's no way anyone would put so much of their time into something and not feel that way.

At home she is always dancing, stretching, leaping, twirling. I'll be in the kitchen cooking some meal (as usual) and on the side I can see her dancing her way over to see what I'm doing. Now she's dancing right next to me as I'm preparing a meal. "Stop! or go in the other room". She can stop for a few minutes but before I know it there she is moving around again. Dance just flows through her body like blood flows through our veins, she just can't help it. I get it, I enjoy watching her, just not when I'm cleaning and she's spinning around on the floor, when I'm watching T.V. and she's stretching to make sure she has her splits down, when I'm helping her with her workbook and she's watching but still dancing!!!

There comes a moment where I am taken by surprise by her dancing..........

Mom Jr. likes to go with me to any store I need to, basically if I am leaving to go anywhere, she's coming along...

Off we go grocery shopping, we are in the produce area and I'm talking away to myself (of course the positive thing with taking kids no one thinks your crazy). "What's the price for one garlic clove compared to buying them in the net?""hmm, oh that's right, my Mom said it's cheaper to buy them in the net".....I go to grab a netted bag of garlic, I turn around and notice three different boys and a man staring in the same direction.......................What are they staring at? I'm wondering.......It's like slow motion, I begin to turn towards my shopping cart where Mom Jr. and J are at and.........................................................................

SHE'S DANCING!!!!

Aaaahhh!!!!!! Watch out, I go into instant bodyguard mode (for those that know me, you know exactly what I'm talking about!!!)!! I quickly walk over to her and say "stop dancing people are staring at you!!". I turn to look at those eyeballs staring her way and give them my "Mean Mom Look". Hey, we're in the grocery store, my domain, don't make me turn this banana into a boomerang and throw it at your a** cause believe me I will!!! Cucumber? What, you don't think I could throw this like a dart and hit you right between the eyes with it??? Try me, you're looking at my CHILD!!!!
The eyes quickly leave our area, in fact they are now standing at the end of the produce area waiting for whoever they're shopping with to come along so they can continue through the store.....
We make our way out of the produce area and again I'm watching all their eyes. They make contact with me and instantly look the other way.......My daughter, she is just 10 years old, okay, yes she is tall (she obviously is going to take after her Dad), but she is a child who doesn't think people are looking at her the way I KNOW they are.
We finished our shopping and had a discussion about dancing and where it is appropriate and where it isn't. I get it, she doesn't think about it that way (obviously, when I'm constantly reminding her she can't stretch like that with those shorts on, with that swimsuit on...).
I feel bad sometimes because she is a little girl who just wants to get better at what she loves to do, she loves to practice her moves, her exercises that they teach her, she just wants to be the best she can be and is not worried about anyone else around her.....
Well, don't worry my baby girl, cause Mommy is watching out for you. I will allow you to be the age you are and continue to practice what you have learned behind closed doors. I will help you understand why it is not appropriate to practice in public, you are innocent, naive, and you should be. For that reason alone, I will protect you in every way possible, soon your brothers will step in as mine did for me. I am not worried about you because I know you will always be protected by all who is around you, your Auntie Lala (I was and am there for her and I know she'll be right there for you), Uncle (yes, he has his own 3 girls but he'd be right there if he was needed, without a doubt!), Mom-Grandma (there's a reason her name begins with Mom, she will always be there for you as she would be for any of her grandchildren, just as if they were her own), and ultimately the first one (behind me) your Dad, no one is going to mess with you, you are the Princess of this family, you will be protected as one always!
So, you parents out there of dancers brace yourself, if your child has not begun to be a little braver and more open to where they practice their moves take this entry to heart and be aware of what's to come....and for those of you who are enjoying this phase with me of your dancer displaying their moves anywhere and everywhere just get your "Mean Parent Face" out and be ready!

Just a Mom............turning into the Protector of her little ones!!!