Just a Good Story

The day before Anna'a dance recital at the Woodlands Arts Festival, she had a dress rehearsal at her dance school.  Her teacher calmly sat in the corner of the room spouting commands at each stage of the choreography as Mary Poppins belted out "A Spoonful of Sugar."  With each command, all four of the tiny dancers executed their steps.  They weren't quite ready for Bolshoi yet, but they did quite well considering their age.

On the car ride home, I told Anna how proud I was of her.  I said how impressed I was that she listened to her teacher so well, that she knew the steps and that it was obvious that she was getting something out of all her practices.  With each compliment, I glanced back and saw Anna with pursed lips sheepishly looking down.  It looked as if she were going to cry.  I felt the same strong emotion as I reached back and gave her a gentle pat on the leg.  Truly, this was a touching moment.

When we parked the car in the driveway, Anna hurriedly unbuckled herself from her carseat, jumped down out of the car and shouted, "I DID IT!"
"Yes you did!" I confirmed.
"No, Mom.  I had water in my mouth the whole way home, and I just swallowed it!  Just now!  I held it the whole way home!"  And she turned and skipped inside with her pink backpack in tow.  Like I said, truly this was a touching moment.