As summer began to wind down, we started to look for a fall activity for Avery. He made it clear to us that although he enjoys kicking a ball around in the backyard, he did not want to play soccer again. And he insisted he did not want to do karate, he wanted to learn to dance. Having grown up dancing, this was music to my ears, but Avery isn’t exactly the kind of kid who runs around busting a move. Did he really understand what he would be getting himself into? And I don’t want to be one of those parents who pushes their children into doing what the parent wants them to do. So I asked Avery to try a free trial class at the local karate place, and if he didn’t like it, he could do dance. Karate did not go well – it was awful. Avery was totally uncooperative and unwilling to participate, but I couldn’t keep Kieron off the mats. So dance it was!

Avery had his first dance lesson last Wednesday. The class is half ballet, half tap. There are eleven little girls… and Avery. He absolutely loved it! He wanted to go back the next day, and was so disappointed to have to wait a week for his next class. I’m thrilled (and relieved) that he’s enjoying his lessons, and I’m relishing being a dance mom while I can. Who knows, perhaps we have a future Baryshnikov or Gene Kelly on our hands?