taking a year off from competitive dance, Katie rediscovered weekends, got to makae her own plans, found freedom! She can dance as she chooses, in what she chooses, to the music she chooses! and this year she will have July 4th to do as she wishes! there is no recital rehearsal. and we can swing a V*A*C*A*T*I*O*N!!!!
I thought we 'd go back to a studio next year, and by we, I mean kate would dance, I would drive to and fro and write checks. I don't think she wants to make that commitment . We plan on signing her up for a few summer classes at a different studio to work on her tricks.
So....am I still techically a dance mom? I think so. she is on school dance team. she doesn't trophies and medals and score sheets anymore. (well, there was that school dance team medal for best smile!) but she still has an audience. she still loves to dance. and I still believe she is very talented.
What did competitive dance give her? discipline, team work, stage presence, confidence, new friends. Am I letting her throw away her gift? I don't think so. She is relaxed and happy. You don't need trophies to prove that you're good. Anyone watching the Glimmer Girls knows she can dance!
she needs time to be a junior high student...and she can't do academic team, pep band, drama, etc. if she is going to studio practice after school. we know this from experience.
do I miss recitals? sure I do. do I miss watching her strut out on that big stage at competition? yep. she was so stressed out the last year she competed. she was frustrated with her dance and other team members.
this year was her swan song. just a solo. low key. relaxed. but the dance didn't showcase her specialities. she couldn't pick the version of the song she liked. she couldn't have any say in her costume. she wanted to quit. my kids don't quit. but then kevin said let her quit. she doesn't want to do this dance. we could afford a vacation if we didn't spend all the $ on costume and entrance fees. but we had already bought new shoes and spent $300 on her solo lessons over the summer.
he was right. sometimes you have to throw in the towel. we stayed at that studio so long because katie selected it and she was happy there for a time. she called stephanie and signed herself up for dance lessons in third grade. but it was time for a change. and I think we made the right parenting decision. katie has got to do pep band, marching band, drama, academic team....she had a good year. and she got to use many talents, not just one.
I love seeing her being a normal teenager.
she missed so much dancing....she gave up years of 4th of Julys. endless weekends dancing at fundraisers and events. she missed two spring concerts. and the one and only elementary dance. I think she gained a lot, too. but she has to decide how much she is willing to sacrafice. it has to be her dream.
