The debate

In the second grade I was positive I wanted to be in ballet class. Never mind that I had just come out of three quarter's of a soccer season with four black eyes and multiple bruises. I never got the gist of getting out of the way out of the soccer ball as it carreened towards my head - the result was never pretty. My mom got tired of me running around looking like some little forlorn beaten child and asked if I wanted to quit soccer. I readily agreed and we decided that a good alternative would be ballet. I thought the shoes were cool. Which, looking back, I was right; ballet shoes are way cooler than white canvas Keds.

So, ballet it was and we got me outfited with little pink shoes, pink tights, and a black leotard with the little foofy shoulder things. I went in to a dance class with about 8 other little girls in the same garb. Some taller, some shorter, some skinnier, some not. You could definitely tell which ones had been in ballet class before. Even at the ripe old age of 7, little girls can be real snots when it comes to being better at something. Never the less, I adjusted and started learning all of the different positions and stretches and leaps and bounds. We eventually got good enough to practice a routine for a dance recital. About three-quarters of the way through the season, I decided I wanted to quit - I was tired of dancing. Mom stood her ground and made me see the season through. At the end of the final recital, I received the award for most improved dancer. I accepted my plaque, took my little bow in my hot pink too-too, skipped off stage, and never put another set of ballet shoes on again. Case closed. I now wanted to be a cowgirl astronaut.

Now, here I am 20 something years later (oooo...that hurts to think about) and have a little boy who I am positive would benefit from the grace, strength, and poise that ballet teaches. I'm thinking one little ballet season. Hubby is thinking one little ballet NEVER. I'm thinking if Herschel Walker can take ballet and play football, then it can't be all bad. Hubby says the little guy can take karate for poise and balance (but he doesn't use the word 'poise'), can skip football, and go straight to baseball. I'm trying to be open minded and go for a comprimise...I'm thinking tap dancing now.