Dear Addie,
This week we tried something new and you know what, I'm SO proud of you!
A good friend of ours recently told me that our local dance studio "The Holly Spring's School of Dance" was doing a FREE special needs dance class the second Saturday of every month...beautifully named the "Shining Stars"!
Wow! Really? How awesome is that!?
Having been a dancer my whole life (well technically until your big sister was born. Now I mainly dance in the kitchen while making dinner and at weddings...), I of course was intrigued.
So after a battery of questions to the studio director about the class, our "predictably unpredictable" selves took a deep breath and headed to what would be your first dance class. Here we go!
When we arrived at the studio "Miss Marilyn" - studio director and teacher, was waiting outside to greet each of her students with a warm welcome and big smile! Side note: Miss Marilyn can be easily identified...she simply radiates sunshine!
We walked into the room and were eagerly greeted by HSSOD students who were there to help out with all the fun!
I know you were nervous my dear, as evidenced by the fact you kept repeating "people, people, people" over and over again before retreating to snuggle up securely in my lap (with a gorilla grip on your blanket). You were nervous, and I started regretting my decision. The last thing I wanted was to stress you out!
But then, the music started and you lit up with excitement! For the next hour we clapped, danced, went on a pretend adventure around the studio and even learned a small routine.
Yes! You learned an actual dance! If I can be honest, this class far exceeded my expectations! This was a safe place. Nobody was laughing at you or pointing out your differences. It was a place of fun. A place of sharing in beautiful music and movement together. You didn't participate the whole time, but you didn't run out the door either! You did it baby!
You were free! Free to move your body, free to sit if you wanted to, free to make noises...free to be you Addie. Nobody stared at you with confusion or even curiosity. They looked at you with a smile because you were having fun and in return, they were too!
I'm not sure how to thank HSSOD for this great opportunity! Letting you explore music, movement, and just be yourself in an otherwise frustrating world was simply awesome.
Such a truly selfless thing they are doing in our community that brought our family SO MUCH JOY!
...and Miss Marilyn, I hope we come across a lot of "Miss Marilyn's" in our lifetime...she is an amazing teacher and truly an amazing human being. Not only in dance, but in life. Giving children an opportunity to learn and teaching youth compassion is an extraordinary gift.
We will be going back Addie, you can count on that!
Love,
Mom
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