Recitals and an Ending

5-14-14 aiden's 9th birthday and annslee in my tap shoes 033

The girl wore my old tap shoes.  There’s something about this that makes me very happy.  Those were my actual tap shoes.  That I wore.  When I hated dance.  When I was 4.

5-14-14 aiden's 9th birthday and annslee in my tap shoes 035

And she loved that she was wearing them.  And I loved that she was wearing them.

I also think that I might could pick up tap dancing.  But that’s beside the point.

5-14-14 aiden's 9th birthday and annslee in my tap shoes 036

The day of the recital was beautiful.  It was held at the Galveston Opera House…which just made everything seem more important.  The sun was bright in the sky and the ocean was around the corner.

It’s no secret that she had been saying all year that she “was not going to go to the recital.”  But after she picked out her wrist corsage…minds were changed.  We went from “Ow not going”…to “Don’t watch me or take pictures.”

I said, “We will watch you”…and “I will take pictures.”

She really didn’t argue anymore.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 010

Although she didn’t look like the picture of thrilled…she did get through it.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 028

What she lacked in I-love-ballet-pizzazz…she made up for with extreme dance move accuracy.  I mean…she is looking to that hand like nobody’s business.  Just like the teacher told her to.  And talk about a good toe point.  My girl knows how to do what she’s told.  And that bodes well for her in the teacher’s pet department.  I got a call a couple of weeks after the recital from her teacher saying that she was a very special student and she really wanted her back next season.  I told Chad that maybe we should encourage her.  I mean…what if she is supposed to be a star in The Nutcracker someday??  What if the teacher saw some serious potential in her??  He didn’t entertain these notions.  He also said that he wasn’t paying for her to do something she didn’t want to do.

Point taken.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 030

But I can’t argue that she makes the most beautiful ballerina I’ve ever seen.

And that any reason to give tiny pink roses should be respected.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 041

Everyone was very proud.  Her teenage brother even put her recital on Instagram for his friends to see.

Now that…that’s serious business.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 060

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 065

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 071

The very next day…Chase had his Spring piano recital.

He played a difficult number.  His teacher was a little worried when he first picked it out…but didn’t want to discourage him from trying.  He worked so hard.  He practiced all the time.  And by two weeks in…he knew it backwards and forwards.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 075

He amazed us.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 076

And then he graduated from Elementary School.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 079

This was a difficult day for me.  I can’t even put into words why it was so difficult.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 089

It snuck up on me.  And I just wasn’t ready.  He was.  But I wasn’t.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 097

I am so proud of who he is.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 101

And I know there are great things in store for him.  The next chapter is always exciting and worthy of all the celebratory hip-hip-hoorays…you’re off on your ways!!  With all the look how far you’ve comes and we are so proud of you’s!!  Next chapters are wonderfully freeing…and growing…and deserved.

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 112

But with any ending…

6-12-14 end of school year and recitals 111

…there comes the reminder of the beginning…

aiden's earpierced and first day of school 064

…and that beginning was just yesterday.  And the reality of that…made my heart ache.

And I just wanted to hold him a little longer.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SPONSORS