Parent Watch Week and Student of the Month

Last week at Maddy and Garrett's dance school was Parent Watch Week.  I love PWW.  Actually, I should say that I've loved PWW in the past where I've watched an hour and a half or so of dance.  Last week I watched for almost 5 hours and watched 7 dance classes.  (2 of Garrett's and 5 of Madeline's.)

Ok, so I still loved it. (And at the break I ran to Harvest Fresh and got my favorite salad and cookie, so that was definite icing.)

(I apologize for the cruddy pics on this post.  I had the wrong lens on and just couldn't get it together.)

Garrett was so cute and hilarious in his dances.  He is starting to 'get it', but I still can't quite imagine him doing the recital.  (Which he is definitely doing.)

Look at that hair go!

Her dance team warm-ups arrived.  She was one happy girl! 

Madeline was so fun to watch as well.  She's improving and learning, and blows me away every time.  I don't know much about dance (at all), but I am so proud of her for working so hard and always doing her best.  During jazz, one of the last and toughest classes, her teacher felt like some of the kids weren't giving it their all.  She sat them down and had a 'come to Jesus' (my term, not hers) talk with them.  She talked about 'owning' your life, and giving your all in everything that you do- school, dance, etc.  It was really good, and I love that the focus is on the dancers doing their best, working hard, reaching goals.  I looked over and my girl was nodding.  Yep, she's heard it before.  In fact parts of the talk were word for word what Maddy's recited from her classroom teacher as well!

And that is my completely obvious shift into Student of the Month.  Just a few days before PWW, Maddy was given one of the Student of the Month awards for her class.  In theory, stuff like SotM makes me crazy.  There isn't enough months for all the kids to get them, and I always feel bad for the kids who won't ever get them.  Listening to her teacher though, I was so proud of our girl.  What a huge blessing she is to us.  She is kind, she works hard, and she's (usually!) so responsible.  When I think of the fear and uncertainty in our lives just over 10 years ago when we found out she was on her way, I am amazed at the innumerable ways she has blessed us.  As a teacher, Student of the Month still makes me crazy, and it certainly doesn't take that for me to be proud of our girl.  I know though, that what Maddy does, she does for herself.  Not for us, not for awards, and not to compete with her peers.  For some reason, she is strongly motivated somewhere deep inside.  I can't figure out how a 9 and 1/2 year old can grasp the concept of being responsible for her learning, for her life, but somehow she is.  (90% of the time!)  I don't know how she is so empathetic, but I do know while I was pregnant with her I prayed for her to have a tender heart.  I'm happy for her that her teacher 'gets' her and notices what a great kid she is.  So.  Congrats to Maddy!

The presentation happened during lunch time.  M knew what was coming because one of her friends had just seen the list and told her.