Dancing and Dreams
So, we recently hit a HUGE milestone, Lindsey completed her
first dance recital! She practiced all year and performed on the big stage with
all her neurotypical friends. As the day unfolded I was a rollercoaster of
emotions, but nothing could prepare me for watching her. Smiling from ear to
ear, I had tears flowing down my face and my video captures mine and all her
families cheers as she impressed us.
Early in October 2017, we decided that since Lindsey had such
an appreciation for music and enjoyed dance parties more than any other kid we knew, that we would sign her up for a Junior hip-hop dance class. There are
some options for special needs classes, but her attention span had improved so
much over the previous 12 months that we tried a mainstream class. The first
night I was terrified mixed with unbridled enthusiasm, I gave her teacher a few
notes on Lindsey and then sat outside peeking thru a window. I think I held my
breath most of that night. I analyzed her every movement, anticipated her
running out the door to find me, waiting for yelling or crying, hoping that she
would be ok. At the end of the class she
ran out skipping with a lolly pop in one hand and a smile on her face. I asked if she had fun, she said she did and her teacher confirmed
that she was engaged and participated well. This was night one.
From that point on every Monday night Lindsey and I could be
found at her dance studio from 7:15 until 8pm. It was obvious that we tapped
into a passion and we buzzed about how she “fit in”. I posted so many pictures on
Facebook and showed videos to anyone who would watch her learning new steps. I
thought that was the height of my pride- how could it get any better? Then
costume fittings and pictures came- that too was a thrill. And then finally her
big event was on the horizon. She had a dress rehearsal, that required her to
be with her small group backstage for hours with parents she didn’t know in a
place she wasn’t familiar with. I sat in the auditorium and waited, her song
came on, her dance-mates ran to their spots and Lindsey stopped halfway to her
start position on stage looked at the lights and RAN OFF stage. As if she
simply said “nope” and left. She disappeared behind a black curtain. Her
instructor led her back to her position and after 45 seconds of a 2.5 min
routine, she got back in the rhythm and finished strong.
That night we talked a good amount about staying on the
stage for the actual recital. She told me the lights were “kinda scary” and I
helped her realize that those lights were going to help me see her so we could
cheer! I had NO IDEA what to expect on recital day. Lindsey knew every step,
but the sensory overload of the lights and loud music could cause a reaction. Thank
goodness we had a dress rehearsal because on recital day she was comfortable backstage
with the other moms and was ready for the lights!
So as her song began to play, and her class took to the
stage I once again held my breath, she ran out with a real pep in her step and
immediately started the routine. She wasn’t perfect, but few of the six 7-year old’s
were. She fit in PERFECTLY. Her slightly off timing on occasion brought “character”
to the dance and she SHINNED! I cried. I was so happy to see her do well, but
even more to see her do well in this setting with mainstream kids and to hold
her own. She was proving to me, and to the world that she can rise to a
challenge and she will succeed.
I know it may sound silly to put so much stock in a dance
recital, but it wasn’t that long ago that she wasn’t verbal, that she wouldn’t
listen to simple requests of sitting, or to someone yelling “no”. She had made
great strides in the last few years and to adapt to an unfamiliar setting, with
so many distractions and so many uncertainties was quite impressive. It showed
me, that I was right to keep pushing her, encouraging her, and helping her. She
can master things with grace. And has a very bright future.
I write this blog entry to encourage anyone to take a leap
of faith with their kid, sometimes it wont work out, sometimes it will prove to
be too hard but sometimes, just sometimes, magic happens and they exceed everyone’s
expectations. Take a chance- with you – with your child- with a friend, you
never know until you try. Our kids really can improve, heal and go further than
they often are given credit for. I hope this story gives you that extra push to
try something new too.
Here are a couple pictures I snapped thru the little window on a random Monday night:
