"I DID IT!!!"

Let me just preface all of this by saying that I took a video which has since disappeared. I was distracted during the uploading process and Sophia clicked on something that deleted only the video from the album. Weird. Anyway, I am trying to recover from the disappointment. Part of that process is to recount the experience as best I can and to console myself that after tonight, I am confident there are many more recitals to come.

So tonight was the night. All along, Sophia had been saying she wouldn't dance. I told her it was fine if she didn't dance, but she was going to put on the costume and we were all going to the recital, even if only to support her friends. Of course my hope was that she'd decide to give it a go, but I know her capacity for stubbornness, so I didn't have very high hopes.

She enjoyed getting the costume on, and having Grandmary around helped distract her from the purpose of the costume. By the way, they were dressed as Who's from Whoville and danced to Welcome Christmas.

Here she is in her getup, holding Cinderella (a gift from her friend Ava).

 

She stuck pretty close to me once we arrived. But after seeing her friends and some older kids running around on the stage before the show, she figured she might be brave enough to run around too. A little game of Ring Around the Rosie apparently helps calm the nerves.

 

I am always surprised at how relational Sophia is most of the time. Before the show started, she kept seeking out people she knew just to interact with them and try to join in their activity. This activity was just a cute version of waiting, I think.

 

This is where it got interesting and where the recording stops. Sigh. As soon as the show got close to starting, Sophia ran to us and insisted that she wouldn't dance. We asked if she'd just like to line up with them. She tried a few times but was very timid and would return quickly. Just before the music started, Hallie came and just got Sophia and put her in line. A few tears dropped, but no real crying. Then the music started and it was as if the clouds parted. Sophia immediately began to smile. I wish I could describe their performance to you. All of the children did really well. I'm hopeful that I can get a video from another parent that will at least show the performance. They sang out loud to the words "Fahoo Fores, Dahoo Dores, Welcome Christmas, Come This Way." It was a true choreographed number. They had to step in time with one another and even hold hands in a circle dancing around an imaginary tree at one point. Miss Hallie put a lot of faith in those 3- to 5-year-olds and they really came through. It required lots of listening and understanding, and Sophia did SO well. I was really amazed. Seriously, she smiled the entire time. Then the music came to a close. Just before the applause started, Sophia lifted her arms in the air and yelled at the top of her lungs, "I DID IT!! I REALLY DID IT!!!" The audience all laughed. At that moment, all this silly saga really seemed worth it. She was so proud of herself. She was thrilled that she had done it. It was HER accomplishment entirely. What a big girl.

The rest of the show, Sophia sat with us and kept asking if she could dance with each group. I guess she's in. Now she can't wait to wear tap shoes like the big girls. Should be a fun ride if she's still up for it.

After all was said and done, we did as any parents do after a successful extracurricular activity. We went and had burgers and ice cream. Well, she had ice cream. And boy, was she pleased about it.

 

What a night. I'm sad that you all can't witness it, but mostly I just hope that it stays clearly in my mind's eye. Sophia did it.