The Worst Mom Ever!

Last week I wanted my 4 year old to try a new dance class. She is usually hesitant to try anything new (activity, food, etc.) so I was glad that she was willing. It was a hip-hop class for 5 and 6 year olds but they said she could try it because she will soon be 5. We showed up and she changed into a leotard and tights but I soon realized that all the other girls were wearing leggings, t-shirts and sneakers. I didn't even have her sneakers so she had to go bare foot.

Since I had my two year old along I couldn't stay during the class because she was yelling and trying to join in and it was creating a disturbance. It seemed like the class was going smoothly so I ducked out the door to kill some time at the grocery store nearby.

An hour later we arrived back at the studio but when I entered I saw a group of older girls dancing. I asked the women at the desk where my daughter was and she pointed over to a far corner of the room. I asked where all the other girls were and she said "The class was only 45 minutes." My stomach sank.

When my daughter caught my eye she gave me a steely gaze and then slowly came over. As soon as she was near me she broke down in an avalanche of tears. I felt so badly that I came back late and she was forced to watch all the other girls leave with their moms while I was nowhere to be found. To add insult to injury she expressed how awful it was that "everybody else was wearing clothes" and she felt bare and stupid in her leotard.

There was nothing to say except "I am so sorry! It was all my fault." I totally messed up and now she will probably never want to go back again. Now I will be on my guard to be more on top of the situation and do my homework so that the next new experience will go more smoothly. I'll have a lot of opportunities for that I hope!