This is How I Torture My Child August 28, 2008
Posted by Emily in : Little Man Dallin, Princess Hannah, Saba , trackbackIf you haven’t heard, Hannah LOVES to dance. She loves a lot of things, (like playing golf, playing the piano, listening to music, singing, and playing with her doll to name a few) but there is nothing more fun, or more special to her, than BALLET.
In a previous post, I briefly talked about her love of ballet. I probably should have dedicated an entire post to her love of this dance style, so now I am.
Hannah and I both needed a little mommy/daughter time, (since Dallin takes up all my time, I need to make arrangements to spend quality time with Hannah) and I decided to take her to a ballet class. You see, I called the studio a few weeks ago and tried to enroll her in the class, but they (actually, all studios have this same rule) have some stipulation that kids need to be three years old to join.
Now keep in mind, I’m not proud of this next thought I’m going to share; I almost LIED, and told them Hannah was three. Yes. LIED . . . almost. Clearly, if they knew my child, and the PASSION she has for ballet, they would make an exception. Who cares how old the kid is if you are willing to pay the tuition?
What’s the next best thing to taking the class? OBSERVING THE CLASS! I loaded Hannah up in the car, and told her we were going to go have fun, just mommy and Hannah. When we arrived at the studio, Hannah was excited. She gave all the three year olds a “once over” (such a little woman already) and immediately assessed their footwear. (She is still obsessed with shoes) I of course packed her ballet shoes, (heaven forbid the emotional meltdown that would occur if I left them at home) and she put them on right away.
She was very obedient to stay by me, (I couldn’t exactly let her run out and join the kids on the studio floor) and mimicked the teacher’s actions. She kept saying, “Hannah’s turn!”
I just have to say one thing: Hannah is as tall as any of the kids, and she had so much desire to be out there with them, would anyone really know she was only two? At the end of the class, the teacher asked Hannah if she was in the class, and Hannah replied in her outside voice, “BALLET CLASS!”
See, she speaks in sentences! She could totally pass for being three. 
Leaving the studio was something I was not prepared for. I honestly thought she would leave with me, skipping out the door, dreaming about the wonderful time she had observing the ballet class.
Ahem . . . that wasn’t exactly what happened.
Kicking and screaming, (literally) I forcefully removed her from the building, and used all my strength to strap her down in her car seat. She kept screaming, “ONE MORE TIME! AGAIN! BALLET CLASS! GO BACK!”
Yeah, I kind of figured that was what she wanted when she started screaming.
The 15 minute drive home was more like 15 hours with the constant crying. She kept saying, “GO BACKWARDS! TURN AROUND! ONE MORE TIME! MORE!” Part of me was laughing (because it really was adorable) part of my heart ached for her (to have so much love and passion for something at the tender age of two) and the other part of me wanted to tell her to STOP CRYING! I GET MORE THAN MY ALLOTTED DOSE EVERY DAY WITH DALLIN.
As we pulled into the driveway, we had this conversation:
One thing is for sure:
If she loves ballet this much when she turns three, she will be enrolled wherever we live. NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS.
Comments»
That is TOOOOOO funny!
Ohh, Em, that is sooo sad! Your a better woman then I, I TOTALLY would have fibbed (I do not like the work LIE:. LOL, it really was cute!
Oh Sweet Hannah !!! I am so sorry the mean ladies want you to be 3 when it is so obvious they are missing out on your talent for ballet. Do you guys have the “Little Gym” there? If so the first time is free just to check it out. Thanks for the video, Msddie loves to watch it and tell Hannah it is o.k.
She is so sweet!
Oh so sad & yet so cute all at the same time!