Rite of Passage

When I was in fifth grade, my mom signed me up for ballet lessons. Unbeknownst to me, she signed me up because I was chubby and awkward and she thought ballet might give me some confidence. And I was going to go if I wanted to or not. The joke was on her though. I LOVED it. By the time we moved, I was taking five classes per week and dancing on pointe. (This would be before the advent of boobs and, ahem, the blubber layer before I became a round person.)

Zoe is going to start dance lessons next week. Her class will be a combination of ballet and tap with other four-year-olds. Unlike my mom, I am signing her up because I think she will love it. Everything at our house is, "Mama, watch my new running dance!" or "I have to practice my jumping dance!" I figured that was a clue that she might enjoy a more formal dance experience than jamming out to the Imagination Movers.

I took Z to get her first pairs of ballet shoes today. I can't believe my baby is big enough for dancing already. Sniff! Sentiment aside, the actual purchasing of the shoes was a bit of a trial because Z is going through a phase where she thinks shoes should not touch her feet. Anywhere. So I put these shoes on that she is positively swimming in and when I ask her how they feel, I always get the same response. "They are too small, Mama." I end up having to guess which ones are the best fit. According to the Payless put-your-foot-in-the-right-sized-hole sizer, she is an 8 1/2. But dance shoes run small, so she ended up with 9's.

She was very excited about her new shoes and wanted to wear them to the grocery store. Can you imagine an overexcited almost-four-year-old wearing tap shoes at Wal-Mart? I shudder to think! We picked up a couple of pairs of tights and a leotard. And a little chiffon skirt that I just couldn't resist.

I am dying to dress her up in her new dance togs. Just like a dolly! They have a recital in May. I can't wait to see my baby on stage with all of the other uncoordinated pre-schoolers. I hope she loves it as much as I did.