Tomorrow, I will be the mother of a two-year old. It is truly mind blowing how fast time flies. Though 1/9 is my son's birthdate, the 8th is just as significant.
In January 2020, after the holidays, I worked frantically to prepare my classes for my upcoming maternity leave. I wanted to ensure that my students knew their warm-up and were prepared to adapt to class with a temporary teacher. In theory, I had almost two weeks to prepare them for my leave. My due date was the 19th. However, on January 8th, I was working on battements and pirouettes with them and actually doing them myself! So imagine my surprise when my perinatal doctor sent me to the hospital to be induced that evening! The planner and organizer in me was definitely thrown off. I thought, "how can I possibly be having my child now? I was dancing this morning!!!". But of course, at 11:06 the next day, the 9th, my little guy arrived. Ironically, Etta James "At Last" was playing through my airpods when I made the final push. Being able to dance throughout my pregnancy made such a difference for me. I spent a lot of my pregnancy uncertain and concerned, mostly because I wasn't sure what was supposed to be "normal". I equated being able to dance with my regular routine, therefore, it provided a sense of calm for me. As my pregnancy progressed into the final trimester, I definitely slowed down a bit. But even being in the studio felt like a safe space to occupy. I also found additional connections with my unborn son. I will never forget the time that I was teaching grand battements to my ballet class and I felt a few quick jabs to my ribs from the inside. He was right on the music, even in utero! These little moments brought joy and a renewed sense of excitement each time. And I welcomed these new discoveries as a way to bond with my little human. Being a parent is exciting, but it can also be daunting and terrifying. And pregnancy is no different. People say that you forget the uncomfortableness and the pain you experience. Unfortunately, I am not there quite yet. But, I hope I never forget the beautiful moments that I shared while dancing and creating with my little guy still in my belly. It was a common bond that we shared and even on the outside, he still loves to dance! Happy birthday to my sweet boy!
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AuthorNikki Allred Boyd (Dancer, Choreographer, Mom). Archives
March 2024
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