Hip Hop Connection

This weekend is your Hip Hop dance recital. It is your first real live performance. At least a performance on a stage in front of complete strangers, your family has sat through many many impromptu performances. You have been practicing this Hip Hop routine for months to the music and lyrics of Rhianna's Umbrella song.

I feel anxious. Anxious for many reasons. One, because you have not paid much attention in class and prefer to look in the floor to ceiling wall to wall mirror instead of watching and listening to your instructors demonstrate and count off the dance moves. On the way home from your dance practices I have tried to gently tell you to really pay attention and follow the instructions, your recital is coming up and you want to do your best. You have just said uh huh and can we listen to Disney? I stressed listening and watching your teacher. I built you up telling you what a fabulous dancer you are . At home.

And then there was the parent watch night a week before the upcoming recital. In one word - sloppy. You were so interested in the little cheap and flimsy umbrella prop that you were the only one going opposite direction while the rest of your class twirled the umbrella in the opposite hand as you and went the other way. After class I had to tell you. You need to pay attention, you are going to be embarrassed, if I didn't think you could do this I wouldn't get on to you, you need to stiffen up, you need to practice. When I told you that your teacher would not be standing in front and leading you during the recital you started to tear up. Reality set in. Ugh! I wish there was some way I could teach you the routine but I can't because I am so Elaine when it comes to dancing. Believe me you will find this out.

This past week you have been practicing. Asking me if I notice how stiff your arms are. Telling me that you are so much better now. I think it will be fine. I am just trying to protect you because I know how excited you are to show your grandparents your dance and you get embarrassed so easily. But you love your outfit with the hat and can't wait to wear makeup, real makeup.

All your grandparents are coming. Your Grammy from California, your dad's mom, flew in last night for the show. Your Pops, my dad who paid for all your lessons, is coming and bringing Miss Pat, his wife and your grandmother. Your Marmie, my mom, is coming up for the day and can't wait to see the actual routine performed having caught snippets as you have showed off when she comes by to visit.

But Marmie has never met Pops's wife, Miss Pat. This will be the first time my mother and stepmother will see each other outside of a picture frame. I am the one anxious and there is no practicing for this. But it is what you wanted. You wanted everyone to come and see you perform and they are.

I am so glad you are just seven. If you mess up and turn the wrong way no one will care, you are a young performer and all 7 year olds have short attention spans. Besides you are too cute and you are going to do great! Because you are seven you will never know the anxiety the adults are all feeling before the meet and greet. For that I am so very thankful. Break a leg!!