Don't Forget the Me!!!

A story about getting to dance class. That starts at 5 p.m. In the middle of one of the busiest parts of town.

I start talking about going to dance class around four in the afternoon. I drag out her purple leotard, black tights, black dance skirt and black ballet slippers. I show her what she is going to wear, a little nervous because the leotard has long sleeves...and Hays abhors long sleeves. She acknowledges all the goodies, briefly, then continues with her computer game.

Twenty minutes later, I announce, "It's time to get dressed for Haysie's dance class!" crickets. "Alright, Haysie gets to go dance like a ballerina." nothing other than an increase in the volume of her computer game. Okay, she's playing hardball..so I start to take her clothes off for her. After 15 minutes of pulling off her clothes, smashing her body into her tights, leotard and skirt, she finally takes her eyes off the computer long enough to tell me..."Ooohhh, so pretty!" Now she gets into full-0n dance mode (see pic). She's twirling, sliding, walking on her toes, and doing something I like to call the dishwasher. It's sort of a shimmy, in that it involves her shoulders back and forth like a shimmy. However, Hays adds her own little touch by bending forward at the waist and moving her head side to side with her shoulders. aaawwww! Since I am a photo geek, I am compelled to take pictures then out the door with 10 minutes to go before class. But no Hays. I come back inside. "Hays let's go, baby!" Dang it, I hear the computer turn back on. So, I use the old standby, "Bye-Bye, Haysie. Mama's going to dance class..see you later." I slam the door for effect. Start the car, put on the seat belt...and you could almost count 3, 2, 1. "Mama! Mama! Don't forget about the mmmeeeee!" She repeats, "Don't forget about the me!" as I see her little head bouncing up and down in front of the car. She opens up the door, climbs in, buckles up and says, "Let's go get 'em."

Thankfully, we get there a bit early. We go up the stairs and are walking to our class when we look through the window that looks over the basketball court. But today, to my horror, they have gymnastics set up on the court. I mean, since when did gymnastics involve inflatables and jumpy castles?! "Look! Gym-ba-nab-sticks"...great.