The Ballet Recital

The Sunday last was a big BIG day. It was the day of little Miss Haana's ballet recital. We'd been looking forward to it for more than a month. 

The little girl loves her ballet classes and her teacher Miss Nanda. The ballet classes are at her Montessori school. A couple months back we got a note from the ballet teacher that all the students need to have proper ballet outfits with a tutu, pink ballet shoes and pink stockings. We promptly made a trip to a proper dance outfit store, where both the little girl and I had trouble zeroing on one ballet dress to buy- they all looked so overwhelmingly cute on her. Ultimately we went home with two. 

The class had been practicing since 6 weeks for the recital. They had been measured for special recital dress. We had been instructed on the stockings and shoes to get. The excitement had been building for weeks.

Finally during the previous week we got the ballet dress with a headband. That night we immediately tried the dress on at home and it fit beautifully. The trouble was- getting the little girl to take it off! 

I had invited some of my and Miss Haana's closest friends and family for the big day. That morning I bought a delicate shade of pink Burt Bees' lip balm and shimmer. Gugu and I put finger nail paint (something I do not allow on a usual basis) and as always I applied the same color on my nails. I made Miss Haana's hair into 2 neat pony tails with tons of little pins and some hairspray to hold it all together. Then there were a couple pink flower hair clips on either side and the headband. 

Once at the venue little Miss Haana could barely stay on the ground. She was skipping and jumping and posing and prancing around like a little fairy princess! My friends arrived graciously on time and little Miss Haana's friends (Rushil and Anya) were super excited and thrilled too. After tons of photos all around, the time came to send the little ballerinas to the auditorium stage. The little girl hugged her dad( who may have needed it) and followed the line of little ballerinas gingerly but without looking back.

The show started and as soon as the little girl entered it was heavenly! We were on the front seat (I was at the edge of my seat) and the little baby was so cute and beautiful and unbelievably sweet! She followed all the steps and performed with a sense of importance and perfection. Somewhere in the middle while the music and dance was still on, she saw us and as if she remembered something, she waived at us and blew a kiss. I smiled. More dance followed.

And then again, in the middle of the song and dance she remembered something.. There from the stage she looked at me and said "Mumma! mumma".. I was puzzled. I looked and nodded at her half asking her what she wanted to say, half reminding her to continue with the ballet. She said "Mumma, I want to give you a hug"! The whole auditorium breathed an audible "awww"! That's one sentence I would never forget the rest of my life!! I laughed silently and nodded( me too!) and blew a kiss to her. She blew one back and carried on with her dance. 

She performed beautifully. At the end, all the girls were given certificates and tiaras for their performance. And the event ended. I noticed the entire event neither Anya nor Rushil had made so much as a single sound - they were engrossed too! I was told later by their moms, they both wanted to take up ballet classes now!

Outside as little Miss Haana came out she jumped into her Dad's arms. Then I made my way to her. And she and I hugged and kissed each other deeply! Perfect!

I'm Afraid So

There was a time when the little girl would pick up on new words and I would be thrilled! Now that is passé!

Now, she's up to picking up new phrases too.

Heard this morning while still rolling around in bed- 

Mumma- Gugu, did you have a good neenna? (Baby talk for sleep)?

Miss Haana-Yes!

Mumma- Gugu, did you see any dreams?

Miss Haana-Yes, I'm afraid so!!

Mumma- I'm afraid so?? Come here for a little pitti( spank)!

Elsa

Disney's latest blockbuster Frozen has a major support from our household. Not only have we whole heartedly made our contributions multiple (who's counting!), times, we have also contributed in terms of casting.

Miss Haana is Elsa - on most days. On the other days she's Anna. She sings, walks, talks and thinks Elsa. I get a near continuous playback of "Let it go" soundtrack at home. 

Recently we went shopping for shoes for the little girl. Browsed around for a few minutes until the little girl located Frozen themed shoes with Elsa on them. There was no separating them from that point. I didn't even try. 

My dear dear cousin sister (in law) came over and was readily included in the Elsa fan club. We joked about it and laughed. A couple of days back I opened this carton she sent over. It had a beautiful Elsa dress, fancy sparkling shoes wih lights on them, a tiara and cuddly Olaf all packed in together. We had a hard time just getting her to take off her dress even for turning in for the night!

A new device just entered our house and Miss Hana already has claimed it to be hers'.

Fine Balance

I haven't reported on our two-week trip to India last month yet. It was over like a blink of an eye, and it was like I was  already unpacking suitcases even though it seemed like I had barely just left.

We spent the first one week at her maternal grandparents' place- hobnobbing with Nana, Nani, Softy Mausi and Aby bhaiya. Even though she was a bit shy at the airport at Delhi, by the time we reached her Nana-Nani's place she was already telling Nana she wants cake for breakfast tomorrow. With Softy Mausi she found her love of long hair renewed. We had watched Rapunzel as a play in children's theatre just before this trip- so long flowing hair such as softy mausi's  triggered the perfectionist hair dresser in her! Aby bhaiya and Haana were just as inseparable as they had been last year. And my sweet nephew Aby has grown even more sweeter and thoughtful and perceptive individual.

The next week was spent at try he paternal grandparents' house who were in total surprise and had no idea we had a trip planned. Once the surprise waned, shopping trips were planned and arranged for the little girl. She hung out with her Tata and Pati; and was the little princess there too.

But coming back from India trip is not without it's perils. First, after spending time on a vacation getting back to the routine of daily life is never easy. Jet lag is not thy friend. Family back home always complain how the time was just not enough (very acutely aware that was the case). But the biggest issue happened with Miss Haana's school.

Before we left we were in the perfect sweet spot. She loved going to school, she loved coming back in the evening. On Sunday evenings she was looking forward to meeting her friends the next day. Ever since we came back, she doesn't want to do school anymore!! In the mornings she doesn't want to go and in the evening when I pick her up most days she has the get-me-outta-here expression, like she's had enough! This is such a huge stressful deal! And is totally stressing me out. Talked at school with the teacher and admins but I'm still not quite sure what is going on...

Hope we get back to a happy balance all over again.

Ballet Class

We had a ballet class at home on Sunday last. 

The little girl has been taking ballet lessons at her Montessori. Last week there was an email from their teacher detailing the dress code all the students will need to adhere to. We needed a proper ballet attire with a tutu, pink tights and pink shoes. It warranted a trip to a proper ballet store. 

The store was full of so many little dresses.. And they were all so divine! So pretty. In black and pink and purple and blue. Dresses with sequins, with net or embroidery. Or with small pink flowers! It was beautiful. I narrowed it to about 10 dresses with difficulty- dresses be tried out. When we got to the fitting room and tried the first dress (purple one) it was very cute indeed. 

Then it was a big struggle to remove this one to try the others.

Eventually we came back home with 2 dresses - purple and a black with pink tutu. 

Then, Sunday morning, the first order of the day was to wear the dresses. And once into the black dress with pink tutu, the little girl was now a ballerina. So she immediately became our ballet teacher who began with instructing us how to stand and where.

Stand here, properly. No, don't lean back. Come forward. Stand here.

(Once satisfied with the placement of the student).

Ok now do like this (a ballet pose), and now this(another).

Now let's sit down. Sit down. Cross cross apple sauce. 

Now do this( lean left), and now this ( lean right). Now do butterfly.

Now pull your leg straight. Now another.

Now let me switch on the music.

(She gets up and presses an embroidered button on a stuffed horse nearby- and music plays).

Now let's sit down again, property.

Ok.

Now get up.

Now touch the horse (?what?!)

Touch the horse, you too Mumma!(I realized I hadn't quite done it.)

Now jump ( we do a frog jump, and again).

...

I graduated from the class. But somewhere around "touch the horse" I wasn't sure if it were a ballet class anymore!

First Fight Ever

This one started very scary.

This evening as I reached the classroom to pick up my little girl; and as she ran to me as she always does, I could tell something was very wrong. She was all choked up and teary eyed. Instantly I got very, very worried.

Tons of hugs and kisses and several "what happened" questions later, I tried piecing together what may have happened. Initially I thought she said Miss Monica scolded her. I wondered if this was about the other boy in their class who hits her. I'd heard her say multiple times that the boy hits her in class. I wondered if that was what happened today. But she said no. It wasn't him. Then why would Miss Monica scold her? No answer. Besides, I wondered could Miss Monica actually scold? She didn't seem that much older than these kids herself!

Later on, on clarification from Miss Monica herself I realized she hadn't said 'Miss Monica scolded her'. She'd said 'Mihika scolded her'. Apparently the two best friends had had a fight over a spinning wheel on who will spin it. Tempers must have flared, and by her own admission little girl Miss Haana said she got very angry. Some harsh words must have been exchanged. 

Even as we came home, the little girl was extremely upset and distraught by what had happened. I asked her if she was still angry, and she said "No, I'm mostly sad"! Then I told her I'll talk to Mihika's mommy, and ask her to tell Mihika that little Haana is feeling very bad about today. Even as I was typing the text and the little girl was peering onto my phone screen, i could tell she's beginning to feel somewhat better. 

Later that evening somewhere between the conversation about sharing amongst friends, I asked who her best friend was.

The answer was a resounding "Mihika"!

I guess all will work out soon enough.