The Dandelion
On Friday, August 8th, my daughter had a close-out performance in her summer dance camp. I must say, as any parent might - I'm very proud.
But it's why I feel this. She's almost 6 years old. To begin, she was up at 5am this Friday morning, arrived at dance at 730am, stayed all day and she no longer takes naps. The performance started at 6pm and we did not leave until 9pm. She had strong self-control. She was in command of her body and her emotions. My daughter was poised, focused, and followed her cadence.
Her mom and me cannot take all the credit. This is who she is. Our daughter, Camila, is strong willed. She is self-motivated and driven. With a razor sharp focus on anything she enjoys, and while that seems like a good trait, it has it's tough spots. For instance, when she hasn't eaten her dinner or it being bed time.
As is standard in the performing arts with children, Camila and other kids were Dandelions in the dance performance. My heart filled with pride. Emotions overwhelming my body. Laughter as I cried. Impressed by the 7-8 weeks of work she's done and how far she has come. Camila is excited to go back next year and we are too.
Mr. George, a kind and hard-working man is at the facility everyday. He maintains the church, where Camila attended dance camp. I'll miss talking with him every morning as I dropped off my little Dandelion. What is also impressive, Mr. George would tell me how he remembers the older teachers aides and other dancers, coming in at the same age as my Camila. He said, "we don't just teach them dance and art, we grow them into large fields of dandelions." Very poetic Mr. George.
At close out night it all made sense. There, in attendance, watching their kids perform, were other parents, that attended the same dance summer camp. The lineage of this program and its impacts in the community, actually blew me away. For 25-30 years, this place has helped groom and shape kids. I really love that. Especially in the same building where Martin Luther King Jr. stood, as I wrote about on June 24th (see link below)
We've had quite the summer. Our Dandelion is growing fast. I hope to have an addition to this, next year.
🥹❤️