My Emma started dancing when she was 4. It’s been a very major part of our lives ever since. She absolutely loved it – breathed it – talked about it all the time….She would turn off the TV every day, find some music and just dance in the living room….kind of lost in her own little ballet creations. I danced ONE year and I never quite got the bug…oh I loved my friend’s beautiful costumes they got each year, but never liked going to class….I never have been the most graceful person on the earth!! So when I had this very VERY girly little girl who loved ballet, it was kind of foreign to me….but it didn’t make me love it any less. I loved EVERY minute of watching her dance…seeing her do what she loved…and we’ve sat through 10 different recitals (including Christmas shows) and I cried at EVERY ONE…not just a tear down the cheek – no – serious sobbing going on in the stands….good thing I always had a giant camera in front of my face to disguise my weapiness!!
Here are a few of my favorite snapshots over the years….the one in the top left corner is before her very first dance class – age 4…and the photo in the middle is from her last recital this past June.
Leading up to her final recital, she began talking of wanting a break from dance…I figured, it had been a long year and I’m sure a break over the summer and she’ll be ready to go back. Then she started mentioning soccer and wanting to be an “athlete”…I thought = ok here’s my kid who can’t open her eyes in the sun, doesn’t like to get sweaty outside…and she wants to play soccer?? Ok – I thought to myself…we’ll see how serious she is. I signed her up for a 1 week soccer camp – 9-5 OUTSIDE in July in FLORIDA…that’ll see if she’s serious… To my COMPLETE surprise, she came home happy, excited and absolutely loving soccer…I guess we’ll go with it then…I kept bringing it up over the summer to make sure she was comfortable with her decision…she never waivered for one second.
Tonight we went to the studio to pick up her things from last spring and to say goodbye. It was strange walking out of there, knowing it won’t be a huge part of our lives for the first time in 5 years….why am I so weepy about it? Why is it making me sad??? I decided I would deal with my emotions about the whole thing by what else??? Taking pictures!! I took Emma out in her last dance costume (wahhhh) and did a shoot to remember these years by. I am SO in love with these images of my big girl…I can’t believe how far she’s come from that goofy little 4-year-old to a beautiful young lady. I’m so proud of her. Even though I’m sad to say goodbye to these years of dance, I’m so in awe of her confidence and drive, her ability to make tough decisions and to follow her dreams. She’s artistic, she’s smart, she has a very kind and nurturing heart. I’m so blessed that she’s mine!! Here’s some of my favorites from our session together….
