Do you remember that post I wrote about Libby when she went to stay with my parents on her own? I said I wanted to stand on top of a mountain and shout to the world "do you know how special this girl is?" Probably not, I don't think anyone commented on that post. I digress.
What I wanted to say is, I still feel that way. She is vivacious, and imaginative, and passionate, and smart, and growing at an alarming rate.
She has been taking dance since September. They had a mid year performance this past weekend at an Old Dominion University woman's basketball game. Her teacher sent us a link to the dance on YouTube so that we could practice her moves at home. When I suggested that we work on it before the big night, the little girl I described above crumbled. I'm always thrown a bit off track when Libby acts shy. It is not in her nature. Part of me kind of likes it, because she needs me more in those moments. When she cried and said that she just wanted to stay close to Mama, I wanted to hold her close to me and say of course you can stay with Mama. She so rarely wants me to mother her that way, I wanted to jump at the chance. I knew that I couldn't. I didn't want to push her too much, if she was truly afraid of preforming I didn't want to make her, but I knew I needed to encourage her to try. I told her that things we are not used to are always a bit scary, but that I would be right there cheering her on.
"How close Mama?" she said.
"As close as they'll let me Libby."
She never would practice in our living room. She just wanted me to hold her. I did not make her practice, I just told her that I knew she was brave enough to do her best.
When she took to the floor at half time, I could see her scanning the audience for us. Maggie and I were screaming her name. She couldn't hear us, every camera holding proud parent was screaming their own child's name. I noticed some of them had even taken to the floor with their iphone's and dslr's. I remembered what I told her "as close as they'll let me." I crept down to the floor and found a place right in front of her and I thought if I don't cheer for her and cheer for her loudly who will? So I did. Her little eyes found me and her face lit up because I was there cheering for her, camera in hand, as close as they would let me.
She did awesome. She grinned from ear to ear the whole time and barely missed a step. She waved to us with both arms up!
I don't know if she'll stick with dance. I don't know what she'll do, but I know that I'm going to be there, cheering as loudly as I can for her, from the front row if they'll let me.
The whole world might not know how special she is, but I sure do.
Grace and Peace
xoxo
2 comments:
Bravo, Libby! Wish we could have been there also to cheer you on! Proud of our girl!
So proud of Libby - that was a large arena for a little girl to perform in. I too would have loved to have been there to cheer her on as well.
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