Spent my Mother's Day weekend taking Park from her first performance ever - at a nursing home; followed by her her participation in the town parade, her first performance at the town festival, and swimming class. I have to admit that at first I was overwhelmed. I didn't grow-up doing all of those things, and the Bronx certainly didn't have any town parades that I was aware of! Getting to rehearsals on time, doing quick costume changes, applying make-up, doing hair, (since they rejected my Cell Block H look, I've learned to nix the corn rows and get her hair into a ponytail at the top of her head), and running from one location to the next was at first intimidating. But somewhere along the way I got into it. These are the experiences that will shape her life and build her confidence. At three she has been in a parade and performed on stage; she has sung in front of her church and is comfortable being in front of people.
At first I tried to play it cool with the performances. At the nursing home I kind of laid back watching, trying to be the calm, relaxed parent. But by festival time I realized she needed to know we were there, supporting her, loving her and being proud of her. So as she entered the stage, I shouted her name, blew kisses and made sure she knew Mommy and Daddy were there - and that little girl - the tiniest one up there, sought out our faces and began to smile and dance. Now she didn't know all of her steps and tended to stay stock-still at the ones she forgot, but some how - with her round little belly, covered in purple, she managed to move the crowd - and mommy and Daddy's hearts.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Pictures from Cell Block H
Today is picture day at my daughter's dance school - why is dance so much more elaborate with everything?! With gymnastics, on the last day of your six week session they throw a medal around your neck, put you up on a few blocks and parents are free to point and shoot - the end. With swimming - why you just get in the water and 30 minutes later, you get out. With dance there's picture day which means you are paying for costumes, buying make-up and almost knocking yourself unconscious trying to spray paint shoes silver in your garage. There's also the performance at the nursing home, the town parade and two school performances. I had no idea my daughter would be on tour when we signed up for this. Honestly, I don't care if she ever dances or flips on a competitive level - I just want her to have creative exercise after school and classes are a great way - some of them just come with so much.
Anyway, as I was doing Park's hair this morning I looked at the picture instructions and they said "anything away from the face," which may sound easy to some, but not for me. I am just not good at doing Park's hair. There have been days where I have sent her to school with one style only for her to come back with another - courtesy of a teacher who had mercy on her - or me! Her hair isn't long enough to get into a bun and can barely make a ponytail - it's beautiful, brown fuzzy hair that just does not "lay back." What could I do?
Well, I went with what never fails - cornrows. But, because I also am not good at that, all I could so was do eight braids going straight back on her head - she looked like she was on her way to take a prison mug shot and not a dance school photo! But what could I do? I just have to rely on the cute-factor!
To make matters worse, I won't be there to get her ready. I have a client call that won't allow me to get her dressed and to school in time for the photos - so my husband has to do it. Business is slow; two weeks ago I didn't make a call because I took my daughter to see Mary Poppins (well worth it), but I didn't feel right about missing another call so soon. That means Larry has to get Park dressed, stick a crown on her head and apply blush, eye shadow and red lipstick! I pray that some mother or teacher has pity on him and helps him out.
So my daughter will have prison hair and red lips - I really don't know how the final pictures are going to turn out, but I am sure it'll make for an interesting photo!
Anyway, as I was doing Park's hair this morning I looked at the picture instructions and they said "anything away from the face," which may sound easy to some, but not for me. I am just not good at doing Park's hair. There have been days where I have sent her to school with one style only for her to come back with another - courtesy of a teacher who had mercy on her - or me! Her hair isn't long enough to get into a bun and can barely make a ponytail - it's beautiful, brown fuzzy hair that just does not "lay back." What could I do?
Well, I went with what never fails - cornrows. But, because I also am not good at that, all I could so was do eight braids going straight back on her head - she looked like she was on her way to take a prison mug shot and not a dance school photo! But what could I do? I just have to rely on the cute-factor!
To make matters worse, I won't be there to get her ready. I have a client call that won't allow me to get her dressed and to school in time for the photos - so my husband has to do it. Business is slow; two weeks ago I didn't make a call because I took my daughter to see Mary Poppins (well worth it), but I didn't feel right about missing another call so soon. That means Larry has to get Park dressed, stick a crown on her head and apply blush, eye shadow and red lipstick! I pray that some mother or teacher has pity on him and helps him out.
So my daughter will have prison hair and red lips - I really don't know how the final pictures are going to turn out, but I am sure it'll make for an interesting photo!
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