Small (dance) steps to independence

The Girl™ is taking two dance classes this year – ballet and musical theatre. She has taken dance classes for the past 5 years. But this year is different. This year is a milestone in her life. This year, she has to get to dance class on her own.

Before anyone turns me in to the bad parent police, I should explain that the dance studio is right across the street from her school. Once the busses are out of the way, it is a relatively quiet street with most of the traffic the result of parents dropping kids off for dance classes. She has a few friends from her school who also take the same dance classes so they travel as a herd and cross the street together for added safety. I’m not concerned about her safety. She’s smart enough to cross when it is safe.

Here’s the milestone – she’s going to class on her own. She’s responsible for getting there on time. She’s responsible for getting dressed and having her hair in a bun. The biggest part of this is that we (The Wife™ and I) aren’t there to help her out if something is wrong. She is, in other words, starting to have a life of her own in which she has to solve any problems that might come up. This can only lead to going to the playground without adults, hanging out with friends at coffee shops, driving, dating and eventually moving out of the house. I’m not sure I’m emotionally ready to deal with all that.

Oh wait – she’s only 8. Most of those things are a long way off (I know I’m wrong, but just let me live with my delusions) and right now the only change is that she is responsible for getting to dance class. I can live with that. It is, to paraphrase Neil Armstrong, a few steps across the road to dance class, but the first small step to independence.