Dance Mom fail

Well, lookie there - it's a black sheep!

Lucy was selected to be in the opening number with her dance studio because she's stunningly graceful, and she can effn dance, y'all. So, I drop her off at her practice for the opening number, and I know my place in this dance mom gig, it's outside for a run. I go for a quick run to test out my brand new really cool looking shoes. And I return before they even finish all the announcements that I think I might have been required to stay at, I'm not sure. Either they have way too many announcements for those kids, or I didn't run far enough.

My shoes are brand new and I wanted them off my feet. NOW! This has never happened before. My feet immediately hurt. So, now I'm in a conundrum. I mean, I know I'm supposed to be practically IN costume myself and socializing, "Betty is in FIVE dance routines, she has 17 quick changes." I'd tell you about quick changes, but I think you get it. I just can't hang with all that. And also, have I mentioned - my feet hurt? From one run. I'm impressed at my run. And I want my shoes off now.

So, I sit in the auditorium, in yoga pants (yeah, I run in yoga pants) and a tank top with my running visor, all sweaty, breathing heavy and my shoes off in an auditorium full of stage moms and Tabu perfume. I sit quietly to myself as the rehearsal begins. And then, some commotion starts. I think, "How rude, hello, kids are dancing. DOI!" But then I realize, it's a thing you're supposed to do, like in those cheerleading competitions on ESPN. Shout outs to cheer the cheerleaders. Hey,I thought that was fake, like wrestling.

Anyways, the mom's and some kids are cheering them on, "Go CASEY!" "Way to go Julie!" "Woooohoooo!" All that. Kinda cute. And then I look back and see moms doing the moves and yelling "WORK IT KENZIE!" I consider joining in. But I think that wouldn't work. So, I stick to sweating and reading my book. It's my cool down.

One of these mom's is doing the wrong thing. One of these moms just doesn't fit in. Who is it? It's me! That's who!

I consider Lucy for a minute. If I don't yell for her and cheer her on, maybe she'll feel left out. But if I do yell for her, well, my voice sounds like it's got a bull horn attached to it. I'll startle her and freak her out, or she'll think she did something wrong.

So I go back to reading my book. She'll thank me later.

A few days later is recital rehearsal. Which, as I read, is significantly different than opening number rehearsal. We poured through 4 pages of directions and meticulously packed her bag, labeled everything, even packed extras, and then snacks of course. Because she's my daughter, and we sign up for things that involve snacks. It's what we do. And it's also what the book of recital preparation told me to do.

We get her there and they are having practice for opening number as well as recital rehearsal, which we have NOT packed for because it did NOT mention that in the aforementioned documentation. I'm really feeling like a failure as a dance mom to Lucy. I'm calculating if I could get back home in time to get her opening number costume. When I realize there's no way I could make it home and back in time, I'm about to launch into an apology to her when Lucy stops me and simply says, "It's okay, Mom. I can wing it."

And she does. She totally wings it. I think the kid can see my awkwardness - it's very fish flopping out of waterish. And she's cool with it because she wants to dance that much. She knows that's just the price she's going to have to pay.

That's how I roll.
Song of the day: Just Dance - Lady Gaga