Benicio's First Holy Communion ushered in this season of spring's parade of sweet moments: a Mother's Day where my Mom made a store for our kids and cousins. She bought microfibre dust cloths, votive holders, mugs, silver earrings. She laid them out on a table. Answering Bible questions and for giving short dance performances, each kid would get little stones. Using the stones, they could "buy" our presents. Calliope left her comfort zone by singing one of her homemade hymns in order to win me crystal candlesticks.
Also, this is the time of year where the boys bring home their writing. Illustrated stories about Avatar guys crossed with Rufio from Hook, who battle rock bands. And art work the likes of which, I know they will not be bringing home next year. So I am savoring the series of prints and the papier mache Lenape drums they are bringing home.
Our backyard play structure has been the additional play space they've needed but didn't know it. It is HK club headquarters, a jail, and a house for orphans. At last, they have played until dark, exhausted and exhausting every square inch of our property. It feels like good value. Maximizing the day and all possible play.
It's rehearsal season now, today we had the second of three rehearsals. Clara is poised and clear-eyed for her ballet teacher. She is taking in what she is saying, wearing, doing with her feet, her head, her hands. When the lead male dancer swept up the lead girl, there was an audible gasp from Clara's class. It is La Fille Mal Gardee, the Disobedient Daughter. Clara was told that it is the Unprotected Daughter. It takes place on a farm in the French countryside. Why churn butter and feed chickens when you can frolic with muscular boys in flowy shirts and tights?
We learned from Calliope yesterday that the importance of perseverance. In rehearsal, during the sashays, Calliope and another girl collided. Calliope could not recover and wept. After wiping her tears away and dancing with her, I was able to encourage her that no matter what, she has to keep on dancing. If you get crashed into, you have to keep on dancing. If your hairdo falls out, you have to keep on dancing, if you get out of order, keep on dancing. No matter what-- you have to keep on dancing.
