Last Saturday was a special day for me and my baby girl {who is really not a baby anymore}.
In our neighborhood of friends, there is a little group of girls all about the same age. It is the most darling thing to watch these girls become friends and do girly things together. Each of them has a brother {or two} and we do plenty of non-girly things as families {camping, crabbing, sledding, etc} so just spending the day with the girls is a special treat.
This past weekend, we celebrated one of the girl’s birthdays by going to the ballet. The moms and daughters dressed up, drove in to the city and prayed that our babes would sit quietly through the show.
I’m sure this is a special moment for any mom-daughter duo. But particularly so for me as this is the stage on which I lived out my little girl ballerina dreams.
I adore ballet and still wish I had the dedication, the grace and the feet to be a real ballerina.
All of the girls did amazing well. They sat through the show in awe of the pretty, sparkly costumes and ballerinas. Audrey was adorable. I could not believe she understood the story even though it was new to her. She teared up when I told her Cinderella couldn’t go to the party because she didn’t have a pretty dress to wear. She was mesmerized by the carriage {not sure why, but she was very into it}, and at each intermission she didn’t want it to end. I really didn’t know what to expect taking a 2 1/2 year old to the ballet. And I’m trying to be careful about putting my own dreams on her so I didn’t want to talk it up too much. If ballet isn’t her thing, I want to be okay with that. But she loved it. She can’t stop talking about it. She wants to go again.
It truly was a magical day for me as a mommy of a daughter.
Please don’t get me wrong: I love my boys. I’m so glad to have three of them to learn from, play with, enjoy. I even took them to the ballet last Christmas. I grew up with two sisters, have only one boy cousin and nannied for a family with three girls. I understand girls. I like pretty things and fake eyelashes and am not a fan of rodents or insects of any kind. I’m girly. So to have a daughter that I can identify with in these ways is a blessing. This in no way diminishes my love of being a mom of boys, I’m just thankful that I also get to explore my feminine side by being a mom of a girl.
A girly girl who also likes the ballet.
I love everything about this post. It blesses my heart to see such a loving mother-daughter relationship. Thank you for sharing this!
Oh, your post got me all choked up. I have 3 boys and 3 girls.
I always thought I would be a mommy with only girls…. There are about 23 cousins and 90 percent of them are girls!
I love lace, pink, ruffles, and all the girly stuff that comes with it.
I have a girl that really does not like all that frilly stuff and the other two love it.
But, I love my boys! They are in love with me.
Open the door for me, empty the car… ask me all the time if I am alright.
And They are so low maintenance when it comes to clothes.
I do love to “dress” them all sophisticated and preppy like.
Yes, I went to the Ballet – the Nutcracker with one of my daughters 10 years ago!
I hope to be on time this year to go again with my 14 year old and 3 year old girls.
Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy this dream of being a mom with a daughter and cherish it…
Love
Sandy
When I was 5, my mom took me to the Nutcracker. I sat on the edge of my seat, entranced. The next fall, I had the privelege of being enrolled in my first ballet class. I took ballet all through my elementary years, and loved it. To this day, dance is something I love and get choked up at. Kudos to you for introducing your daughter to something so wonderful that can be enjoyed throughout life. Girls are a blast!
Awwwww, I understand … I have three great boys and one sweet girl (different birth order than yours … she is my second born). She and I hoped she’d get a sister one day, but that was not to be and we are so happy with our smallest boy (of course!). I realized that she and I will have a special female relationship, and she connects to each brother in a special way. I think she will be the sibling that holds them together in their adult years, as she is a connecting person and they are all quite independent boys who adore their sister. I told her that someday she will have a special girlfriend or sister-in-law or cousin to become like a sister to her. I have a cousin who is like a sister to me, and I’m extremely grateful for her.
My girl is 10 now, and blossoming into a beautiful ballerina. It is so fun!!!!
Emily- I love your blog. You are so talented. This post reminded me of when I took my granddaughter (2.5 at the time) to see our local high school performance of “Annie” this past May. She, too, was mesmerized and enjoyed it immensely. I did take her home at intermission because I could tell it was time. :) I have been into athletics and coaching and refereeing for much of my life but I know she has to have more than athletics in her life. I hope to continue to expose her to all the richness that life affords.
A wonderful way to make happy memories xo
I was unable to have children and I thank you for sharing yours with me. You are an awesome Mom and do and feel so much. You always make me smile. jean
This is the stage where I lived out my little girl ballerina dreams too :) I can’t wait until I can take my little girl here someday and have a day just like you guys had! :) For now, I will settle with dragging my hubby to the ballet every other year :)
I just wanted to comment and say that although I almost skipped this post, I am SO glad that I read it. I have 3 boys myself, LOVE them so much. But I do wish I could get to do the girly stuff too with a daughter. I usually skip these as I just get bad jealous feelings when I see mom-daughter things, but your words toward the end were so sweet. I really appreciate that! Your post last year actually inspired my husband and I to take my 2 oldest boys to the PNW Ballet’s Nutcracker and they loved it:)
This is so precious! Way to go for being brave and taking her at 2 1/2. :). My little girl is the same age, so this encourages me to try taking her to fun new places as well. What a sweet memory this will be.
This is just so sweet! I always wanted to learn dance & ballet, and it’s so adorable that you two are able to share that!
Ps – Audrey looks just like you in the second picture–too precious!
Oh how I understand the girlie girl sentiment! I actually have 3 girls and 3 boys, but 2 of my girls are tomboys. I, of course love them all, but my relationship with my girlie girl (who is also so much like me) is just unique. Although I never had the opportunity to be a dancer, I always wanted to be and so I’ve been so grateful that this one daughter has always had a passion for dance. I’ve had the giddy privilege of watching her grow from her first ballet class at your daughter’s age to the gorgeous ballerina with professional aspirations that she is today at 16. Oh how I’ve loved every minute of it!
What a timely post! I miss my dancer daughter very much for some reason today. She and I spent many hours going to PNB performances. It was our girl time together and was always special. She started dancing at age 4 and learned confidence, time management and dedication that spilled over to all other parts of her life. She’s now a dean’s list student, majoring in dance in a university in L.A. and I will remember this post when I travel to see her dance performance in December. Thanks for the memories!!!
I took my girls to the theater twice this summer and I felt just like you. One of the nights my husband surprised us with a limo and my girls haven’t stopped talking about it since.
I also have two boys and grew up with 3 sisters no brothers..and I totally understand what you are saying!
Love the little girls at the ballet. My niece started that way and now after a dance degree from University of Alabama – she is seeking her fortune in NYC.
Beautifully written Emily. I have two little boys as well and completely adore them. There is something about being a mom to little boys that is so special. I love the girly girl stuff too and am so glad to have a daughter who does as well. As she is growing up (12 next month!!) it’s fun to see her own personality and touches on things. She still loves ballet!
She will ALWAYS be your little girl! ….and she is absolutely beautiful! :) She really looks just like you!
What a beautiful post. I’m sitting here with tears dropping on my blouse because my ‘girly-girl’ is looking at colleges and this time next year, will be living somewhere else. My friends with daughters also started a tradition, to see the Boston Ballet perform The Nutcracker and I so fondly remember those years of little girls dressing up in their velvet and sparkles for the wintertime show. I know you will cherish all of these wonderful moments; Audrey will be grown-up before you blink!
I have a boy and a girl and I love being girly with her. I’ll have to do a ballet day, love it!
Oh how fun! I am not a girly girl, but do love the graceful, beauty of the ballet! I can appreciate it, while knowing it is not something I would enjoy for myself. I bet it is so special for you to share it with your daughter! And one who is a spitting image of you, no less.
I can totally relate! I have two boys and a little girl on the way. I have longed for a daughter for a very long time and often tear up thinking about getting to experience life with a daughter. What a blessing! Thanks for sharing your fun day.
Cuuuute! My 7 year old just auditioned for the Nutcracker. She love love loves ballet. We find out next week if she’s going to be a little angel! (fingers crossed) Glad you enjoyed your day!
What a special day you had. As the mom of a boy, I understand completely what you mean. That’s why I love having my girly-girl niece..the best of both worlds.
Audrey is just adorable. And tall!
Oh what fun! My daughter is 12 and dance is her favorite but she goes back and forth between ballet and lyrica. This year it’s lyrical, jazz and hip hop. She would take all they offer if I could afford it but I made her pick three.
I don’t usually comment on blogs, but I just wanted to compliment you on such a beautiful post. I don’t have children yet, but when I do I hope I can stay as grateful for the special and little things as you seem to have done. I love reading your blog, keep up the great writing :)
I get it, I have 2 older boys, so your girly girl sentiment is not lost on me.