Dances with Edison

This story really began a few months back when Edison decided that he could no longer tolerate being in "the baby class" (church creche) and at the tender age of three years and nine months demanded that he be moved up with the "big kids" (Sunday school/ seriously groovy dancers) at first I just tried to placate him on the issue fairly certain that he would not be permitted since the youngest child in the class above him was six and a half.

But after many discussions with Edison involving him stating "I'm a big boy I need to be with the big kids.. I am big enough!!!!!" I talked with the teachers. Who happily allowed him in provided he was happy and participating which was a surprise and a learning curve as Edison had to demonstrate a new attention span and also cope with more instructions and all round structure. He was buddied up with a nine year old girl to help him and he did well.

But until last Sunday he had never actually participated in the church groups performances. He'd just "tagged along" But a couple weeks ago he learned a dance with the other children and a proud moment for any parent happened- the teacher asked him to come and perform with some of the others. He was so excited that he spent the next week practicing every chance he had. I practiced with him as I would have to go up too if he needed me. We were pretty ready for his first dance by the time Sunday came around again.

The big morning happened and Edison nailed his rehearsal and was over excited that he was going to be "up front" with an audience. We moved to the main church hall and sat in the front with the other dancers. Just waiting for the performance to be announced and then the kids would go up.

What happened while we were supposed to be sitting there waiting is something I will never forget.

I managed to get someone to video the performance but should have gotten the rehearsal as he nailed it there but kinda choked on the actual show.. but before the show.. this Lady named Hannah was reading out notices and we while were waiting for our part to begin and Edison jumped up there where she could see him out of the corner of her eye and he was free style dancing to her words.. what do you call that interpretive?? anyways it was provocative and very very funny esp when Kicky jumped up with him and started copying. I could have grabbed them but they may have screamed so I left them there. And I scowled at them then buried my face laughing trying not to let them see.

The little rascals kept it up until it was time for the dance while poor Hannah, managed to keep a straight face while everyone else was smirking at Edison and Kicky. Luckily she was most certainly seeing his actions as hilarious.

When we got up to dance though- He wouldn't go on without me he decided- Poor Edison was so wired and nervous that he forgot some of his moves and looked like the typical little tyke struggling to keep up with the others.

To make matters worse Kicky had to join us as MC had to go to work on a call out and thus no one was there to hold him. And he quickly discovered the communion table, laden with grape juice and crackers and decided that now, mid dance was the perfect time to snack on said holy emblems. So between trying to dance and defending the communion it was a very interesting fifteen minutes for me.. Edison just focused on remembering his motions like a good little performer.. then we carried a squirmy Kicky back to our seats.