I put my daughter in dance to keep her busy when her father died. I wanted my kids to have something outside of school to look forward to. I thought I would put her in dance because it was cute and it would be simple. A little recital after a year…I can handle that right? Wrong! Dance is much more than just a little recital at the end of the year. I feel bad for you all who are in competition dance I’m not in that and I am tired around recital time with just the regular practices. It does take commitment and I asked my daughter around February if she wanted to continue next year….here is our conversation
Me: So do you want to quit dancing?
Zaza: Yes I think I’m done. Ballet is too hard
Me: *secretly happy* Ok are you sure because I want this to be your decision
Zaza: Yes I think I’m done can we quit right now
Me: No you have to finish the year out we don’t quit in the middle
Fast Forward to June and the Recital
Me: Make sure you tell all of your teacher’s bye and your friends. We sure will miss them next year
Zaza: Oh mom….I didn’t tell you…I’m not quitting…so you get a bap
Me: But you said…
Zaza: I know what I said but I am allowed to change my mind and you said change is good
Me: Don’t use my words against me. I thought we were done you lied to me *I fell out*
Zaza: Mom really you are embarrassing me. Be an adult and suck it up. Now tell everyone you will see them next year
Me: Whatever……
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36 Comments
Rosey
June 13, 2018 at 12:08 pmAww the dancing pics alone are worth the struggles to be involved in dancing, lol. 🙂 It’s funny when the kids use our words against us, isn’t it??? SOMETIMES! hahaha
Faizah
June 13, 2018 at 2:34 pmShe better not quit!!!! She looks fabulous, happy and confident! I’m glad she made you aware of her new decision! Dance your heart out child!!!!
Crystal Nicole
June 13, 2018 at 6:15 pmLOL well, she IS allowed to change her mind! How can you say no to that face? She looks precious!
Sheena Steward
June 13, 2018 at 7:44 pmI love the pictures of the beautiful black ballerinas! I laughed so hard when she said you said change is good 😂. Your blogs are my weekly laughter.
Joanna
June 13, 2018 at 8:55 pmBeautiful photos! I laughed reading the conversation. Dance is no joke, but I’m glad she decided to give it another go.
bree
June 14, 2018 at 12:37 amDance is a super involved activity for the whole family! Maybe next year huh?
Natasha
June 14, 2018 at 4:27 amLISTEN! I have two dancers, and one of them is flying to Puerto Rico tomorrow for a week to dance with UNESCO. His troupe gets on my LAST NERVE with their disorganization, but I must say that they do a heck of a job with their performances, and part of what I’m seeing is him realize that there are better ways to do things, but because he isn’t in charge he has to test the waters with sharing that. These are gorgeous photos and your daughter is a hoot!
Lou
June 14, 2018 at 5:20 amMichelle has been talking about joining dance, but I don’t know. I don’t have time for all those recitals. But, she likes to do a lot of things, so I’ll wait and see how the school year will be like for her in middle school. I know she’ll be joining several clubs at school.
I don’t think photography is dead, per say, it’s all about telling a story. Anyone can pick up a camera and snap a photo, however, those who know how to tell a story through their pictures will thrive.
Kim
June 15, 2018 at 1:11 amHow ironic! I just went through the same thing with my daughter. This year, I noticed how uninterested she seemed with dance. I asked her about it and she prefers to do gymnastics
Tiffany Haywood
June 15, 2018 at 3:57 amBoth my girls took ballet and tap from ages 2 through 9 and 7. We had this same chat every year. When they both finally told me they were done I thought I was going to scream -with joy! I wanted them to be active outside of school but between costumes, photos, shoes, etc. It became more of a burden and I was so happy when they decided they had enough. PS – I also made them finish out the year.
Elle (CleverlyChanging)
June 15, 2018 at 1:12 pmSeeing her growth and maturity about her ballet decision is very comforting. She is a wise girl who continued and excelled even when she didn’t think she’d like it at first. She has definitely learned a valuable lesson and I wish you and her a lot of success!
Mimi Green
June 15, 2018 at 1:57 pmFirst: I am cracking up laughing because I feel you.
Second: Your daughter tried it. hahahaha
My daughter tried ballet for the first time this year. Like you I thought it would be something simple. She had her big recital last weekend, it was a two-day show. Blown! I had to buy a ticket to see the same show twice. At first, she was over it because martial arts is her first love. Now she wants to do dance and ballet + martial arts. Jesus!
Moriah
June 15, 2018 at 2:37 pmI truly understand where your daughter is coming from as far as quitting and changing her mind, except my mom wasn’t trying to hear it. The pictures are so pretty and I’m glad that you allowed her to find an outlet after tragedy. Best wishes to you all!
Janet
June 15, 2018 at 3:43 pmMy kids took dance and I love watching them bloom through expression. One daughter loved it and the other decided to quit, but I immediately involved her in something else to try.
Angela Ricardo Bethea
June 15, 2018 at 3:44 pmSometimes people change their mind along the way when they slowly realize that they liked it. I love how the conversation with your daughter went, priceless.
Karen Morse
June 15, 2018 at 3:51 pmKids are so indecisive! Lol. I think it’s nice that she’s pushing through with what she enjoys doing though. Ballet is going to teach her a lot of things, aside from the dance itself. There’s discipline and passion.
candy
June 15, 2018 at 3:52 pmPerhaps she just a little like her mother? Enjoy next years dance and sure we will see more photos so bring more lenses.
Carol Cassara
June 15, 2018 at 4:42 pmI wonder if I was like that when I was a kid. I’m sure she has already fallen in love with ballet and has a difficult time letting go. But it’s a wonderful form of art!
Melissa Chapman
June 15, 2018 at 5:04 pmLove the dresses and that must make it so much fun. Yes it is hard but hard work pays off and to learn clasical dance is a great way to exercise and learn. Good luck and I hope she keeps up my daughter is 17 and still goes.
Amber Myers
June 15, 2018 at 8:46 pmShe looks so pretty in all her costumes! My daughter did ballet for a year and decided to go to gymnastics. Then she stopped that because she wanted to play with her friends. But she could change her mind again!
Terri Steffes
June 15, 2018 at 9:03 pmMy daughter took dance for 15 years! The joke was on me! I will say, though, she still has the most elegant walk and hands. I do believe this is lifelong skills to be learned in dance.
Holly
June 15, 2018 at 10:25 pmShe looks so pretty. I guess she found a new love for dancing as she kept going. I know some kids who do competitive and that is way more of a commitment.
Marcie W.
June 15, 2018 at 11:21 pmI danced throughout my entire childhood and understand both sides of this dilemma. Ballet was hard but so rewarding, while my parents often struggled to keep up with the cost and the commitment.
Pam Wattenbarger
June 15, 2018 at 11:39 pmHer dance outfits are super cute and it sounds like she is dedicated. But man, transporting kids everywhere is hard.
Natalie
June 15, 2018 at 11:42 pmAww glad she decided to continue after all! Ballet does look really hard – I am always in awe whenever I watch it!
Lisa
June 16, 2018 at 12:58 amThe dancing pictures alone have to be worth the struggle. But I feel you mama. You are not alone in the secretly loving when they say they are done then being crushed when they change their minds.
brianne
June 16, 2018 at 12:34 pmHow adorable. They look amazing. My girls dance too so I can soo relate to this post. There are so many days where they don’t want to go, but I know how much they love it!
Catalina
June 16, 2018 at 8:39 pmTo dance! Definitely! They are so eleganf, and I think they are happy, too!
Chubskulit Rose
June 16, 2018 at 9:08 pmI mean if she likes to dance why not. My daughter tried ballet for almost 7 months then came recital, she didn’t like the idea of dancing in front of a lot of people so we did not attend it and she did not come back either. I was personally happy because dance is different from the music she has right now, dancing has a lot of activities we can’t do.
Peter
June 16, 2018 at 9:23 pmAdorable! Its nice that she likes to dance, my one daughter has been asking to get into it but its very involved and we have a big family that i am not sure its doable yet!
Tomi C
June 17, 2018 at 2:57 amLessons, lessons, lessons. Mine were determined they were quitting but one day they changed their minds. It’s fun watching them make decisions on their own.
Easter Babe
June 17, 2018 at 11:56 amYou have some great photos of your daughter in her dance outfits. It looks like she’s enjoying it!
Joyce Brewer
June 18, 2018 at 2:33 pmI was in a dance group from age 5-12. It was a wonderful confidence booster. We worked together and traveled together. I hope she sticks with it.
But all of these activities are demanding. I feel you on that!
Alyssa C
June 18, 2018 at 8:26 pmMy daughter is a competitive dancer, so I totally understand. I swear we practically live at her dance studio. But when I see her light up on stage, it makes those long practices and everything in-between worth it!
Jonna
June 26, 2018 at 9:32 amLOL this is hilarious because I remember having a similar conversation with my stepdaughter after 2 years of jazz dance. I was glad to see it end and also glad I have the pictures lol
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