Constant Beginnings

Claire and Mya finished their first semester of ballet at an actual ballet studio. Their previous experiences were both on-base, which are nothing like the "real deal." Being enrolled in a more focused studio had its pluses and minuses. They completed the season with a Disney Showcase, performing all songs from various Disney movies. It was very cute. The girls performed "Arpeggio" from Aristocats. The kicker is that they not only attended their one day per week class, but the week of the performance they practiced Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Friday's practice was a dress rehearsal which lasted from 3:00 until 6:00 with the actual performance at 7:00. I thought it was far too much for preschool children. Claire was pretty patient and focused, but Mya was ready to run after about 2 hours of sitting. I don't blame her. It was too much.  Watching the ballerinas perform while they wait their turn. Claire, Peyton (Mya's friend from presch...

We've held off on enrolling Claire in classes and activities partly due to the fact that she is only 4 and I want her to be a kid and simply enjoy the simplicity of day to day activities, partly due to the fact that we now live in Korea where there isn't a ton of opportunities for a child of dually employed parents, and partly due to my own selfishness knowing that there is a long road filled with games, practices, recitals, concerts, etc. lying ahead. That being said, we are setting foot on that road so to speak. Claire had her first ballet class this week. While we were in ND, we found ballet leotards, slippers and tights for her big gig. She was super excited and we've talked at length so she'd know what to expect. I was a bit nervous that she wouldn't separate well. (She sometimes becomes extremely shy and overwhelmed by situations, preferring to sit on the sidelines to analyze before jumping into the activity.) Luckily my nerves were immediately resolved a...