by Amy Platon“Mommy, I want to be a ballerina when I grow up.”
As a Mom, I guess I’m supposed to have faith that she’ll grow out of that. Not that I’m opposed to ballerinas. It’s just that I’m one of those Moms…princess stories don’t scare me. That is, when I watch a performance or a movie that spotlights a female in need of rescue, I’m not the kind of Mom that worries if my daughter will reenact that behavior in her real life.
How can I be so sure? Because, she’s got me for a Mom.
When my daughter said, “Mommy, I want to be a ballerina when I grow up.” I said, “Oh, honey. I think you would make a fabulous ballerina. And did you know you can be a ballerina, AND something else?”
“I can?”
“Yup. You can be as many things as you want to be. Say your brother wants to be a football player when he grows up. Well, there are football teams for dads to play on when they are home from work or on the weekends. Just like there are mommy ballerina classes. When you grow up, and have a job, you can be a ballerina after work and on the weekends.”
“Oh.” She says. “So, I can be a Mommy and a ballerina?”
“And what ever else you want to be. You don’t have to choose just one, you can be them all, if you want.”
Poof! Just like that, her fantasy becomes a workable reality. She doesn’t have to be the best ballerina in her class. She just has to love it.
I wasn't born this way. I was that dreamer. I didn’t have someone helping me move the pieces of this puzzle we call life. Showing me how they fit together. In fact, I'm pretty sure someone took a few of the pieces from my box. But I’m the kind of Mom who is going to give every secret to my children. Everything I’ve learned I will give to them, so they can be a step ahead of me when I was their age.
Aww, this is so sweet! I love your last paragraph. I am following you now so I can read more of your stuff!
ReplyDeleteHappy ATWT!
Smart mom. We should all want them to have it easier then we did. Good post.
ReplyDeleteJust signed up Sarah for dance!!!!!! Olivia looks so beautiful!!! So you mean I could be a ballerina too?!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great way to put it. So who is in the picture. Is that your little girl that wants to be a ballerina?
ReplyDeleteI was so positive I was NOT going to be my mother when I became one.
ReplyDeleteLike you I wanted to give my beautiful children all the options in the world and allow them to stumble and fall and know it was 100% ok to do so.
Sounds to me like you are one wonderful MOm.
Keep up the good work!
TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ &heats;
The picture is hubby, me, our son and the little ballerina is our daughter. She was a fairy princess in Princess and the Pea. We have her in ballet again this year. She's so excited because she will be using a ballet bar for technique this year. We're looking forward to her performance in Nutcracker in December.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely family and you sound like a very good mother!!
ReplyDeleteThat is too sweet...loved reading your post...
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