I mentioned that we didn't want Em to give up on dance class after one time, so Wednesday was try #2. There were a couple of reasons we thought the first time went wrong--one, we left her as soon as we got to the class. She was in a new place with new people and no familiar faces, which causes some anxiety. On the way home that night when I mentioned going back, she said "but Mommy, am I gonna have to live there?" Oh, the things that go through her head! Two, I left as soon as we got home that night to go to a concert with some friends--that made her sad and made our night seem rushed. I decided if we could make some minor changes, things might go more smoothly.
We were headed to school Wednesday morning and talking about dance, and she said again that she didn't want to go back. I asked why, and she said "I don't like the things we did." I asked her what she didn't like, and she said "we had to hold animals, and I held a pretend baby pig." I managed not to laugh and then told her she would not have to hold a pig this time--that seemed to be enough to convince her to give it another shot.
We got to class, and she was as excited as ever to put on her dance outfit and tap shoes--Mick and I stood outside of a big observation window so we could see her in class, and that seemed to help a lot. About halfway through, the instructor took out a bag and started handing out small stuffed animals that the girls danced with--all of a sudden, I connected the baby pig! Em got a mouse this time though, and she was fine with it.
She did a great job and was much happier when it was over--plus, we let her choose dinner afterwards, and Chick-fil-A is always a winner :).
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