So the show is finally over...thank God!! It was the week from hell for me & Gary. I ended up having the stomach flu from Wednesday through Friday last week. On Wednesday my back seized up a little and I felt really achey, but thought I was coming down with a cold, went to dress rehearsal in sweats and slippers, felt really crappy but we had to get the rehearsal done. Thursday didn't feel any better, stomach hurt, and was so growly and loud that it was embarrassing. Ended up again in sweats and slippers at rehearsal and stayed away from the kids, and was really sick by 7:30, and couldn't wait for rehearsal to be over with. Thursday night and all day Friday (Friday was the day of the show), I was totally sick to my stomach, and in the bathroom every 10 minutes, and felt like hell, and looked even worse. Ended up not knowing if I would make it to the show Friday night or not, but went back to bed and drank gallons of powerade and by 3:00 I wasn't in the bathroom that much. I still felt gross, but well enough to go and do the show. We had tons of parents offering to help, and my kids were the same way, it feels good that people want to help and offer.
After the show, we always go to Applebees with our kids, and some of the kids who have graduated, and some parents, and we just talk and laugh and reminisce. I went, I only had ice water, and didn't eat anything, and really wanted to see my kids, and visit. There was about 25 of us all there...what a site. We had some of our kids from 4 years ago there, and from 2 and 3 years ago, and ones that graduated last year, and our senior this year, and some of our other dancers from this year, it was great!! I enjoyed talking to them all, and miss them all tremendously. But as I sat there and looked around while sitting at the table I thought to myself, "What a family Gary & I have acquired over the years, these ARE our kids, we consider them OUR kids, and they are a great bunch of individuals!" WE sat there for about 2 hours and talked and laughed, and just had a good time. That's exactly what I needed. They call us, Mama & Papa Bear, and we feel like we are to them, and they are all our cubs. I have been teaching for over 19 years, and we still keep in touch with a lot of our kids, what a family that ends up being, a huge number of dancers that have been our kids over the years.
So as we wait for OUR daughter, and I feel sometimes like I will never be Mom, I need to stop and think that on some level Gary and I have been parents to our kids over the years. We have always been more than just a dance teacher, and friend, we counsel, we listen, and we care, and we love all our kids. We tell them when they need to straighten up, and we tell them when they've screwed up, and told them how proud of them we are when they do good. So in the end we have been a "Mom" and a "Dad", to some capacity. We're just waiting to be one all the time.
...and waiting for the sound of tiny feet doing chassés around the house, and a little voice that wants only us to twirl her around. Those days are the days we look forward to now. But we'll keep our dance family, and keep it growing, and our daughter will have so many sisters, and brothers. They are all so excited to meet her now, they can't wait!! And neither can we!!
Love to all,
~Alli
4 comments:
So glad you felt good enough to go out with us! The show was amazing and it was very, very hard to just sit and watch, and weird to think the last time I sat and watched was 6th grade ( not including being a "little girl"). It was so fun going out and talking about the funny things that have happened at dance, the things we'll never forget. That's what I love about us, that dance family, no matter how long its been we still have such a connection.
All thanks to you!
Love you Mama and Papa Bear!!
Alli & Gary:
We the dance family are the ones who are truly blessed to know that we have two very intellegent and caring and trusting individuals who are willing to open there hearts and lives and to take our children in and protect them while they teach them to express themselves through dance. Something that I walked away from the show was how much each dancer showed there passion and showed there expressions through dance!!! Your little girl will be the luckiest little girl as she will not only have you as wonderful parents but a dance family who will also be there to help her grow up and help guide her through her life. I can't thank you enough for what you have done for my daughter and for being there for her through our rough times!! Love Ya Lots, Kyleigh and Mary
It was a wonderful show and a wonderful evening. I'm so glad I was able to be there. Your shows never cease to amaze me, really. I was so proud of Kara. I had not realized she had gotten so good, and it's all because of her Mama (and Papa) Bear. All your kids love you two so much and they know how luck they are to have that relationship with you. Thanks for all you do for them.
:)
wish I could have been there with you guys!!!!
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