Mierae Goes to the Ballet

Just before Henrik was born Eric and I decided we really wanted Mierae to be able to go to "The Nutcracker" when it was here over Christmas. We found out the date that tickets went on sale for students, and we put it in our mental calendar. Well the date came up and we remembered about the tickets as we were driving in the car, right about the time that the tickets had probably just sold out.

Bummer.

Then came January, and we found out BalletMet was doing "Cinderella." We put the date on a real calendar this time, and Eric was sure to be in line and get the tickets right as they went on sale.

The night of the ballet, Mierae was SO excited! We got her all dressed up in the warmest dress we could find (but she refused to replace the thin tights she had put on for some warmer thick ones), and off she went on her daddy-daughter date.

Here is Eric's story of their night:

"Mierae and I were able to see Columbus' BalletMet's production of Cinderella. It was a great daddy-daughter date and I loved seeing the magic on Mierae's face as she took in the performance. This was really the first time that she has been to any kind of live concert or performance that wasn't outside where it didn't matter if she talked or cried or laughed so I was a bit nervous how she would do. But once we were there she took it all in stride and was careful to whisper and not fidget. Of course, at 8 pm she was a but sluggish anyway.

Before the first Act began I asked her if she would like ballet lessons. She said no. I asked her if she would like sport lessons. She said no. After a few other options, she told me she wants to do drawing. I asked her if she would like art lessons. She said no.

After much coaxing she finally told me she doesn't want lessons because she doesn't want to work hard.

I had to laugh at how things might seem to a 5 year-old. Don't many of us have those tendencies? I know I did and sometimes do. However, on the car ride home Mierae told me she wants to take dance lessons in the spring or summer and in the meantime she would practice at home.

The next morning she woke up and the first thing she did was put on her ballet costume and "practice" her dance.

Maybe we just need some time to think and redetermine ourselves to our goals. Thanks for the example, Mierae. Keep dancing!"

(I just have to add that Mierae called me when they were driving home. When I asked her about the ballet she told me how funny the step-sisters' dancing was. Then she said that she DID want to take dance lessons this summer. Eric got home and put a sleeping Mierae in her bed, then told me that as they were walking from the parking garage to the Capitol Theater with the cold wind blowing on them that a repentant Mierae said, "Daddy, I'm sorry I didn't wear the thick tights like you asked me to." Oh, we love this girl!)