I sat cross-legged up against the wall and watched as a few teenagers got ready for pointe class. They wrapped each toe with pink duct tape before they slid on satin shoes and tied pink ribbons around their ankles. Decked out in burgundy leotards and pink tights with their hair pulled back in tight buns, they dashed into their classroom, ready to practice.
After they left, leaving a quiet lobby, I noticed one of the mothers sitting and sewing on a shoe strap. She was obviously familiar with her surroundings, so I decided to go over and ask her about her experience, because frankly, I didn’t know if I was up for being a “ballet mom”.
We chatted, and I found out that one of her daughters was going to be Clara in this year’s performance of the Nutcracker, and she had driven to Lansing that very day to pick up a pair of shoes for her. (Yep, she was in deep.) She proceeded to tell me of the hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars she had spent over the years, but that even though all three of her daughters had danced at some point, they had ended up on very different paths – theatre, ballet, and music. She also couldn’t say enough good things about the Company, and the amazing interactions the students have on a regular basis with professional ballet dancers.
After we finished talking, I walked down the hallway to the room where Madi was in class, leaping over a stuffed animal on the floor. She looked like she was having fun, but I wished that I could project out three…six…ten years from now to see whether or not it was something she would still enjoy. It’s one thing to learn how to dance; it’s another thing to train to be a ballerina. What made the most sense?
I think my internal struggle comes partially from my own experiences, because I wasn’t a kid that just danced…or just acted…or just played soccer. I did a lot of different things instead of being a superstar at one thing. And I don’t think that one way is better than the other, but is there a point as a parent where you decide if you are going to put “all of your eggs in one basket” and focus on one thing or if your kid is going to experience lots of different things? Do your kids become specialists…or generalists? I can see tendencies in my kids already…Madi is a born teacher, Parker loves to perform, Fiona…we’ll see…but what about the other things that they just might love?
I wish I knew the answer, because there are probably better ways to spend my time than to sit in the lobby bribing Fiona and Parker with snacks and iPad games. Maybe she won’t stick with it long enough to try out for the Nutcracker (in four years)…who knows. Or maybe someday I will be the “ballet mom” sewing straps onto shoes and doling out pink duct tape for pointe class.
Madi came leaping out of her class, all grins from class, and I packed up the goldfish and fruit snacks for another day. She loves to dance…so here we will sit…for now.
