ballerinas & some ballet thoughts.

 "Ballet is a dance executed by the human soul."

-Pushkin

um, so you know how you're not supposed to live vicariously through your children? and it's kind of creepy/annoying when parents do?
 well i have a confession: i kind of am living vicariously through mine.

you see, i did ballet when i was little- but then at the crossroads between ballet and gymnastics (i was probably 5 or so), i chose gymnastics. i was athletic and petite (didn't have those long, slender ballet legs), so it was a great choice for me- and i excelled at gymnastics...but i always missed ballet.

fast-forward a few years: one of my best friends from high school was an incredible ballerina. like the kind of ballerina that you watch and think, "that person was born to dance." i remember this one time going with M to see her perform as the Swan Princess in the Nutcracker Ballet and thinking to myself, "i wish that i had never quit ballet. it is magical." she was stunningly perfect out there- it literally took my breath away.

fast-forward a few more years: i have two little girls of my own- who lovvve to dance. watching Ellie as a little ballerina makes me happy-giddy. i love seeing her practice the positions. i love watching her "ballet shows" that she and Alice put on for us. i love watching her love something so much. and sometimes, it takes my breath away to see her all dressed up with that lil tutu on, and her hair pulled back in a bun.

and so. i am going to enjoy these cutest little ballerina buns, tutus, slippers, and shows as long as i possibly can. because it's the darlingest thing. and maybe that's living kinda vicariously. but whatever.

xoxo