We signed Audrey up for her first dance class last month. She spends a great deal of her time every day dancing and creating costumes to go with her dances. And she’d been asking to take lessons for a few months. I was a bit hesitant as she is after all only four and I’m not a proponent of more/earlier = better for young children. There is much to be said for free play and time to daydream and explore. Don’t get me wrong. She has plenty of social activities. Among two sets of grandparents, play dates with friends, home school volunteer days at a local farm, and all the many informal get-togethers, she has no shortage of social activities to keep her busy. If anything, I have to guard our free, unstructured time as it is a fragile commodity in our busy society.
But she clearly has a passion for dance. For the theatrical in general, really. And she’s always known when she was ready for something. If she was telling us she wanted the more formal setting of a class, then chances were she was ready. So we found a short-term summer dance class for her. Something to test it out and see how she would do in a more formal setting. And she adored it.
The other night at the dinner table when we were all saying one thing we were grateful for (a dinner time routine at our house), Audrey told us she was “grateful to have taken a dance class” and then she looked so sad. That day had been the last day of class. Aaron and I, of course, had already been looking into a longer-term dance class for her after it had become obvious how much she enjoyed it. And we’d mentioned that fact to her, in passing at least. But here she was so sad that her dance class was over. I scooped her up and held her and we talked about how much she loved dance class and about how in a few weeks she’d be starting another dance class, this time one that would last a lot longer. And how she could take dance lessons for as long as she wanted to.
“I can take dance lessons all through the winter and then through the spring and then through the summer? And then keep taking them through the winter, spring and summer again?” She asked, wiping tears from her eyes.
Yes, sweetheart. You can take dance lessons for as long as you want.
In some ways it seems amazing to me that she already has such a passion. And the clarity to vocalize it to us. My little girl is growing up. I feel so honored to be a part of that process.
Oh, what a sweetheart. I love how she listed the seasons to account for how long she could take classes. And that photo of her is stunning.
Me too. I thought it was funny she excluded fall. We don’t really have a fall here. It’s basically just a transition from dry season to rainy season (winter). We call it fall, but we’re all kinda pretending. I lived in Boston one year. Now that’s a fall!
I’m delurking (found your blog through Shorts on the Line) to commend you on a beautifully expressed post and sentiment. We, too, have a four year old whom we try to protect from over-commitment to “structured” activities. We’ve decided to sign him up for his first organized sport this fall, and it’ll be a huge milestone for all of us. It’s breathtaking for me when I see these glimpses of independence and passion. . . breathtaking because, like you write, it’s such an honor to witness the process.
Thank you. Glad you ‘delurked’ :)
My daughter turns 4 in December and I just signed her up for her first dance class this fall. When I showed her the new leotard I bought for her to wear (yellow, her favorite color) she twirled all around the room and insisted on wearing it out for our evening walk. Part of me felt bad for signing her up being only 3.5, but I know I am not going to schedule her in anything else this year, but I feel that if I don’t introduce her to different things, she won’t know what’s out there and what she may like.
I think different kids are ready at different times, you know? I was just waiting till Audrey expressed interest in something more formal. For her that was 4.5 years. It could have been 3 or it could have been much older. She’s of course excited about the outfits as well.
I can just imagine how adorable she must be in her dance class. I totally understand your desire to guard free and open time for you little ones. My mom always let us do just one extra thing (sport, class, lesson) at a time, mine was always dance :) You are doing such a great job as a mother, listening to your daughter and giving her what she needs. They really do grow up WAY too fast!
Sounds like between the love of dresses, horses and dancing you had a lot in common with Audrey as a little girl. Although those aren’t uncommon little girl loves, of course.
Oh I have seen those sad eyes at the end of dance season. Little ones who love it so much they don’t want to stop. Love that she is showing her passion and able to tell you about it. Hope she has a blast!
I’m sure she will. She’s talking about it every day and waiting excitedly.
it’s great that she has something that she is passionate about and i think it is so important to help them foster that when they express it themselves. loved her account of the seasons as a way of how the times passes, just adorable.
4 seems to be the magic age of dance—each of my granddaughters started “officially” dancing at 4, although Sarah (our little Bling-babe!) is NOT waiting a minute longer and will officially put on her ballet shoes this fall at 3 1/2. They do know what they want…..and when! Can’t wait to see pictures!
Oh melt….that’s just the sweetest thing! I hope she always enjoys it!
it is such an amazing thing to watch these babes of ours grow!