I was out tonight doing the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Cha-cha, and the Marcarena. Now don't go thinking I have a life. Riley and Seth's school had a dance.
The kids ran to the floor and since there was a heavy emphasis on line dancing, I had to be right there with Riley. She doesn't always get the steps. Hey, Marcarena! I had to turn her in the right direction a lot at first. But she kept going! She kept trying! She was doing it!
Then, during The Chicken dance, (Riley's favorite), the DJ went and said, "Everyone grab your best buddy!"
Riley looked around. All the little girls she knew were paired up. I asked her quickly if I could be her friend. She started to escalate.
"Riley how 'bout Seth can be your friend?"
She started to wail and stomp up and down.
"I have no buddy! I have no friends! I don't want to dance with you or Seth! It's so embarrassing!"
She ran screaming out of the gym and off on down the hall. I ran after her. Seth ran after me, miffed that I left him. I promised him I would have come right back for him as soon as I caught her. Still, he glared at me. (Times like these it'd be nice if HT didn't work evenings).
Riley's wonderful teacher was at the admittance table and immediately opened the sensory room where Riley takes breaks during school. In the room, on the couch, Riley continued to sob about having no buddy. No friends.
Enter M.
Riley's teacher had quickly gone to the gym to retrieve M., one of the little girls in Riley's class who has taken her under her wing.
"Riley, do you want to come dance with me?" M asked.
Riley wiped her tears,
walked on down the hall,
and danced her little butt off the rest of the night!
I stayed near, doing the Cha Cha, The Cotton Eyed Joe, etc. for a while (God help me) but as she got more comfortable I was able to back off.
Meanwhile, Seth wowed the crowd with his impressive break dance moves.
Riley kept going, and going, and going. Hey Ya, Hey Ya!
Go Riley.
The three of us walked home on this unseasonably warm night holding hands, as Seth explained how he focused on the light show coming from the ceiling for the inspiration to his break dancing.
Squeezing their hands, walking down the sidewalk in the moonlight, (or was it streetlights?), listening to their banter, I felt so much joy.
I guess I do have a life after all.
A really, really good one at that.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
that big heart of hers, her capacity to need and want friends, can make things painful at times, but extremely perfect others.
we need to clone that "wonderful teacher" and her friend M. Make dozens of each, ship them off to dance nights across the country.
Hate that feeling - which life do I save first? - but how cool is Riley? I mean, have a melt down and then go back for more? The international fan club is chair dancing once more!
So much love here: you, Riley's teacher, M, Seth. And Riley herself.
I'm sorry HT missed the fun (and wasn't there for the tough stuff).
Your ability to look past the difficult moments to the blessings continues to inspire me, Michelle. Moonlight. Streetlight. Whatevs.
Oy. You had to make Sophie's Choice for a moment, yes?
I know that one.
You know, Riley's displeasure is so understandable and shows her growth; wanting to fit in, be a part of things...
It feels very much like a pre-tween to me.
Love the support team she has.
Love the whole thing.
Beautiful!
A beautiful recovery by Riley.
A beautiful support system at the school.
A beautiful little brother who finds his own joy in the moment.
A beautiful mama who can step back and appreciate it all.
love!
amazing story, amazingly written. Thanks for sharing it.
pure joy
thank god for the m's of the world
Thank you.
And you know why.
Thank you.
I love Riley. I love wonderful teachers.
I love the Cotton Eyed Joe!
That's really great that Riley rebounded so quickly due to the awesome teacher and M. And I love what you said about Seth - "Seth explained how he focused on the light show coming from the ceiling for the inspiration to his break dancing" - that is so cool!!
Don't you think it's cool that because of Riley, some little kid (M.) has learned the lesson of compassion? Thank God for Riley - may she teach that lesson to many, many more Ms!
Cute new pic of you, by the way!
I absolutely loved this, and the kindness just spontaneously coming from those around her - put tears in my eyes. We could all use more kindness all around.
Big smiles all around.
Post a Comment