Abby had her first Dance class on Tuesday. It was such a great experience. She was simply adorable! She really did very well considering everyone else had been in the class for a long time before her. It was so cute watching her try and figure out the steps and watching the other little girls try and help her.
Her class was pretty intense... lots of kids who are really into it.... it is actually the same studio that many of the dancers on TV have came out of.... it just happens to be about 3 blocks from our house... Now for the name dropping... for those of you who watch Dancing with the stars.... Derik Hough, Julianne Hough, and Ashley Delgroso all when to dance there. And then from So you think you can dance.. .Chelsie Hightower. I know I know so fun! Ashley's mom is actually Abby's teacher which is only suiting since I was taught to swim by Patrick Swayze's mom ( I can barely swim!) Anyway this is absolutely not why I put her in there... it just happens to be the closest!
Honestly as silly as it sounds this is a day I have looked forward to for a very long time. Ever since I saw her foot for the first time I knew that going to dance would be symbolic for something. I knew if she could do this she could do anything. Every part of me wishes that Abby's feet were small and cute like everyone else's... but every part of me wouldn't change a thing. Watching her out there doing her thing was so amazing. Abby knows that she has a "special foot". We talk about it pretty often actually. Sometimes when I am painting her toes she will point to the one that has no toenail (the one that is partially amputated) and she will say "Mommy there is no nail" and I will say something to the effect of I know, that is your special toe... and she will say "its okay, It will be back a little later." Oh the insight of a three year old.... Yes Abby your toe will be back a little later... Someday her foot will be made whole. But in the meantime I get to watch as her teacher tries to point her toes and is feeling that something is different... I get to watch people stare when we are at the pool, I get to buy two pairs of every shoe (dance was quite the investment for us) I get to dread the explanations and especially all the surgeries. And I get to watch as my little girl conquers it all. I am so happy that Abby has the confidence and personality of a little girl who won't let anything get to her.. what a blessing that is. Of course I dread the days that she will be teased.... I know they will come. But I know that she... we can handle it. My mom told me when she was first born that I was going to be the best mom to help her adjust to whatever got in her way....I still have my doubts, but I am starting to believe it.
I know that going to dance in some ways was a leap of faith for me. The thought of others thinking she can't do something well makes my adrenalin boil like you can't believe, but I will never let anyone think that she can' t accomplish something and I for sure am not going to let her "special foot" get in her way. Someone told me when she was first born that she will probably never be a dancer.. oh yeah.... we will show them!
