Weekend tidbits

Maia came home for the weekend and said “Monday’s agenda: Are Will and Isabella In Love?”

Between dance recitals, church, and showers, the weekend was spent practicing backbends, round-offs, and handstands in preparation for the impending spy operation.

Here are the facts so far:

1. Will and Isabella talk a lot

2. Will and Isabella walk around together

3. Will and Isabella sit on the buddy bench at recess and talk

4. Will and Isabella laugh at the same time

Number four, in particular, makes me smile. Maia thinks they are talking about romance things. I wanted to know how a first grader defines romance, but all Maia said was, “you know, love romance.”

“Are you in love with anyone? “ I inquired.

“Yes, Ethan. But we’re lucky, people just think we’re best friends, but we’re really in love.” And then she kissed her index finger and placed it on my lips.

"You haven’t done that to Ethan have you?"

A slow smile…”Not yet!”

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This weekend the girls were in their first dance recital. There were two dress rehearsals and four shows. It’s a lot for any little girl to handle, but especially challenging for my early-to-bed kiddos who finally crawled into bed at 9:30 Friday and Saturday. I must say how proud I am of the way they have handled it all. Ruby especially rose to the occasion and showed me how mature she's becoming by throwing ZERO tantrums.

For the two and a half minutes your kid is onstage, time stops and your heart swells so much that it pushes a little water out your eyes as you see those tangible parts of your heart dressed in the sweetest tutus with hair and makeup looking poised, confident, and oh so beautiful. It's one of those cliche mothering moments that you hear about, but comes as a complete surprise when it happens to you.

Listen, I'm going to be real honest right now. The other hour and eighteen minutes your kids aren't on the stage? Those are pretty brutal. But all those kids are someone else's heart and soul and that has to be honored, so you sit there and clap enthusiastically after each number even though the chairs are uncomfortable and you can't really see the stage anyway because of the head attached to the person sitting in front of you.

For the kids, the main event isn't really being on stage, but all the waiting that happens in the dressing room. There are non-school friends to talk with, iPad games to play, movies to watch, and rainbow looming to do.

One other special thing I got to experience this weekend was giving my girls flowers for the first time. I had no idea how much they would love getting a rose. I should have given one to my husband who split all the dance recital weekend duties with me 50/50. If I can just teach him how to do buns and eyeshadow, I'll let him take over!

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This weekend was so busy for us all that it was all I could do to get from event to the next, making sure that I had all my music/earrings/gown/programs/etc with me. In retrospect, I'm glad to have been preoccupied with details as this weekend marked the last recital with my WSU students and performances with WSU colleagues.

I have lots of feelings about ending this part of my life right now and I'm not sure I've got the energy or perspective to write about them just yet.

I will say that I've been at peace ever since deciding to leave. And, especially this weekend, I have been overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for the people whom I've come to know and love because of this job. My students are so uniquely special and wonderful. They have taught me and helped me to become a better person. I will miss that aspect of the work. I also have some really kind, generous colleagues. It's been a privilege to work and make music with many of them.

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I just tore down April from the wall calendar and filled in May. The boxes become less and less full as the month progresses. The next season is on its way.