Wonder had his first ballet lesson at Portland Ballet today. He couldn’t contain his excitement, pulling on his tights and tying his shoes.
I corralled him through the door and sat on a bench, wondering about these moments, where we’re waiting on the outside, wishing our kids strength and hoping for courage courage…because it takes a lot to make these tiny steps.
And not just for them; we bend under all that worry that we bundle inside and push away while we smile and hustle and convince them to head in the door.
I waited outside, and I started my dragon.
A ballet dragon, I thought. I’d draw it for him.
I sketched the legs, the tail, the feet.
. 
By the time the head came around, it was super clear that the body was too small. But those toes! That pointe!
As Wonder leapt through ballet class, I erased the dragons’ toes.
I had dreams of a cute dancing dragon, but I ended up with a stalwart fellow, pointing his claw, dreaming of delicate twirls.
Sometimes what we imagine takes much more work to achieve.
Wonder came out of class; I was not nearly finished.
“What was your favorite part?” I asked him.
“The jumping,” he said.
