My Ballaweena

Before she realized this was not just another dress-up outfit...

So Kayleigh started ballet classes last week, but I failed to discuss or blog about this event because it.was.catastrophic! You know when there is THAT kid at a restaurant, or at the park, or in class... She was THAT kid. She had been so excited to be a ballaweena and just about died when I told her that she couldn't wear her leotards, tights and ballet slippers around the house every day, so the first day of class comes and I'm expecting all smiles and squeals...and it was a nightmare. The class is kinda early, well, early for us non-morning people. You see the best thing about being a SAHM mom is getting to sleep in. Oh, I mean spending every second with your darling children is the best and sleeping in is just a close, close second. ;) And to those of you with babies still or non-sleeping children, my sympathies. Anyway, Kayleigh just so happens to be like her momma and is so not a morning person. Class at 9 am was just too much I suppose. ;) We all wake up about 8:15 thanks to a power outage and a dead iphone and therefore, no alarm. I'm just thankful my little darlings woke me up, as I could have probably slept until 10. So we rush around to get ready and breakfast in our bellies and rush out the door to ballet. Thankfully, it is *right* down the street, so we hurried in right at 9.

This is where the catastrophe began.

Kayleigh does not like to be left behind, and I mean even one step behind...literally. My hands were a little full with Campbell (literally and figuratively), a diaper bag, my purse and the camera of course, so when Kayleigh stopped in the doorway as I proceeded to walk in and find a seat, and the melt down began. I drop everything and go grab her hand to coax her in. Her screams just got louder and I may or may not have actually dragged her by her arm into the building. Thankfully her teacher, Ms. Lanie, is fabulous and terribly understanding, so she told me and Campbell to come join them in class and Kayleigh could join in when she wanted to. So we all plop down in the corner to watch as the other girls stretch and giggle and sing fun songs. I start out with the gentle prodding. "Don't you want to go have fun with your new friends?" I ask her. She clung to me harder, burying her face in my arm. After a few minutes the girls get up and each stand on a dot to start practicing first position. Ms. Lanie asks if Kayleigh would like to stand on her dot. She didn't even look up and I'm pretty sure at this point she may have been cutting off the circulation in my arm she was clinging to me so hard. After a bit longer and a lot more coaxing, I start to turn into "Not So Nice Mommy." No one likes Not So Nice Mommy, including Mommy. She's very not nice and quite impatient. I start threatening every threat I could think of. No tv. No playing with her friends...for a week! We are going to call Daddy. Literally, everything I could think of. She finally let go of me only to flail herself onto the floor and cry. Embarrassed, I tell her to stop crying because she is disrupting class and attempt to bribe her. "Don't you want a treat after class? We'll go get chicken nuggets if you go stand on your dot. Don't you want to play with those tambourines? Only ballerinas get to play with those. Don't you want to be a ballerina?" Needless to say bribery doesn't work either. Then I try to get up and join in myself, which she just thought was funny and was still having no part in actually participating. So finally, I just hung my head in shame and just sat and watched. She did get up and try to mimic the girls, but only a foot away from me in the corner. As soon as someone would look at her, she would throw herself back on the floor.

Thankfully, the end of class finally came after a very, very long 50 minutes. We ran, maybe sprinted, out the door in shame, and I truly considered never returning. I then remember how much we had paid for the class, the leotards, the shoes...and called Brett to tell him that he MUST take off next week to deal with this situation. Later that day, after a little time to breath, it became very clear that Kayleigh had in fact taught me a lesson in ballet class. Not So Nice Mommy isn't very effective. Neither is bribery. She was absolutely terrified (though she had done swim lessons just fine and loves church nursery), and all she wanted was the comfort of her mommy. A little comfort and confidence building might have gone a long way. Did I mention I'm not much of a morning person myself? ;) Wouldn't it be nice if mommies got a magic maintain your composure potion when they gave birth?

So of course, Brett's schedule did not allow him to take off, so I spent the next week going on and on and on about how fun ballet class was and practicing first position with her. We talked about what she was going to tell them her favorite color was (pink of course) and her favorite pizza toppiing while they stretched. We even talked about how fun Ms. Lanie was.

The next ballet class rolls around, and I was so apprehensive. We woke up earlier this week, made sure we got there a little early, and I promised donuts after class if she behaved. Ok...so bribery does work but maybe just before the fear strikes. She was definitely not thrilled about going in, but Ms. Lanie held her hand and though she wasn't happy about it, she walked into class with just one sad look back at Mommy. Campbell on the other hand was devastated she couldn't join them. I had my hands full the week before trying to keep her from joining the class and standing on a dot. Class finally wrapped up and Kayleigh literally leaped in my lap. Ms. Lanie said she only started to cry a few times and she just told her that ballerinas don't cry. Why didn't I think of that???

So we headed out the door for donuts for being a good ballerina and Mommy said a few prayers that next week is even better. I also thanked God for teaching me a few lessons before my kids are old enough to remember Not So Nice Mommy and hold me to some of my bribes. :P

Needless to say, I didn't manage to get a single picture of my little ballaweena except this one through the outside window. Maybe next time will go so great that I can snap a few decent pics.

She is in the black and pink right next to Ms. Lanie.

Trying to entertain little Miss