Night of Giving & Thanksgiving Wishes

Thanks for all of the kind words to my daughter about her post. And NOW back to my regularly unscheduled post.

Every time I see my daughter dance I am impressed. I think back to her earlier days around age 3 when I put her in a group called Texas Stars. They were a singing/dancing/tumbling group. At that time, we didn't know about her Asperger's. She was just a quiet girl who kept to herself. We used to have to call her by her first and middle name just to get her attention, and we used to have to do it several times. I would take her to class and sit in the lobby that was only divided by a thin curtain. I am sure her teacher was overwhelmed by Caitlin. Every class was filled with repeated calls to "Caitlin Rose, Caitlin Rose." (Be sure to add an annoying lilt to the call.)

Despite the disastrous classes, when the group would attend grand openings and the like, Caitlin would pull out all the stops and shake her sparkly red pompoms, dance to Zippidy Doo Da or sign the lyrics to Proud to Be an American. (Sorry, I didn't have a video camera back then.) It was quite specatcular for a three year old. However, when the Christmas show came around, Caitlin spent the entire show wandering around the back of the stage behind the rest of her group who was dancing in little elf costumes. It was at that point I pulled her from the program. Caitlin didn't see a dance class for three more years.

That is when I enrolled her in ballet, tap and jazz. Fortunately, the walls were much thicker so I didn't have hear the repeated "Caitlin Rose" calls. Her teacher told me that Caitlin was the one she would turn to when she wanted to know where the class left off the week before. At the recital, Caitlin was the one her classmates watched when they forgot what to do next. This strong memory is what got her invited to the competitive group two years later.

These days my concerns are more academic in nature, so it gives me such pleasure when I see her performing at various functions like the Night of Giving that took place last weekend.

My little camera has an okay video function. It's better than nothing.



After the performance there were some other performers, but mom and I decided to get a little peek at the sales they were having at the event. We went to the department store and found this cute coat that Caitlin really wants. Santa may just bring it.
She certainly has come a long way and for that I am thankful.

I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. All of my English, Dutchie, Norsk and Aussie friends, I wish you the same. We will have some turkey and pumpkin or pecan pie for you.