Ballet mom
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 9:21PM
In the life of a ballet mom, there's a special season each year, set apart from the rest, a time where normal life ceases, when one is caught up in a whirlwind of sugar plums, dancing mice and complicated schedules. It's Nutcracker season. For us, it lasts from the beginning of October until the end of the year. My daughter and I go through this season together, spending hours upon hours in the car, going from regular ballet classes in one city, to rehearsals and performances in another, most often in the midst of rush hour. The driving part, I don't love, but the rest is wonderful. It's as if life finally gets so busy, that there's nothing to do but just go with it. There's no more trying to figure out how I can juggle more things around, fitting everything I think I need to do into my schedule. I simply can't do anymore, so I don't. I surrender. I relax and enjoy myself, probably more so, at this, my “busiest” time of year, than at any other. Sometimes I have my son with me while I wait for my daughter. We use this time to explore the downtown area, ride the monorail, visit parks, go out for coffee, and play games. I love how it becomes our special time together, just the two of us. Other days, it's just me, and I get to read or write in a little corner of my favorite coffee shop, or I'll watch through the windows of the studio where the company members rehearse. Of course, the most exciting part is when I get to see my girl dance on stage. I don't know how many more years my daughter will perform in the Nutcracker. This could be the last one. That's what we said last year too. We never know. We'll just enjoy it while it's here.
Reader Comments (9)
Your daughter is lucky to have you :-) I love your attitude.
You have a great attitude about all the busyness. Enjoy the season and watching your girl perform again. :)
agree, that is a lot of driving - but I love your attitude about it all.
Ballet Mom - that's great :)
It sounds so exciting and magical. What a thing for you to experience together. Love it.
Gorgeous pictures too!!!
That's neat that you and the children can handle the traffic. Like someone else said, it sounds like you all can handle it with grace. And Seattle's downtown is on the water and gorgeous.
I don't like to drive, and my daughter hates being in the car. Sensory problems. She has no problem with music, but music in car with noise outside the car with stop and go makes it impossible... I'm surprised we survived. Hours in the car, and it was too much.
But this year it is not so bad because we are now close to downtown, so the trek to the Nutcracker, ballet, and the university is not as bad. She is doing the dancing and the singing as part of music education for piano. If we were in a Russia, a pianist of my daughter's capability would have a special school; we cobble it together. It's sad that the classical arts are not appreciated in the U.S, and that someone can go on a silly t.v. show and be labeled "talented" with so little development.
We have a nice downtown, but compared to Seattle, it's no place to hang out for hours; at least I can go home now.
Thank you ladies, for your kind words. : )
Sue, We just barely handle the traffic. Every year around this time, I get a real longing to live downtown and just walk everywhere. I am inspired by what you have done, moving into a smaller house in the city and fixing it up. Your daughter is lucky to have parents who go the extra mile to make sure she gets what she needs for her education. I think you're doing a great job.
What a great attitude you have about the busyness!!
My kid's birthdays bookend Christmas (12/19 and 1/8), and so I tend to get overwhelmed and completely stressed out during our extraordinarily busy season. I need to try to figure out how to channel your attitude this year.
Seriously - thank you for the exhortation and challenge.
Thank you, Dawn.
Your city is beautiful! I can definitely understand why you would long to live there this time of year.
Excuses for exploration - lovely things. Hustle and bustle. Tulle and slippers and greasepaint, and music and dress rehearsals and lighting rehearsals and people shouting directions from the audience - yes. I remember all that. I'd probably enjoy it again if I had the energy for the rest of it - the memorization and bad food and long hours. If only I had a mom to hover in the background, holding it all together.