The Ballet Recital

It's a coming of age thing really—the first dance recital. In the several weeks leading up to the show, I would catch Ellie practicing (sometimes when she thought no one was looking and others when she requested us to be her audience). She was excited. She told me, "Mommy, I won't ever get nervous. If I do, I will just take a deep breath like this."

On the day of the show, I volunteered to be a back-stage mom just so I could be there in case she needed some comfort. But she didn't need me. Not really. She was calm and amazingly focused throughout the entire performance (including the costume change for the tap portion of the show) and really seemed to enjoy herself. And that my friends is what this is all about.