Tuesday 14 June 2011

Dancing with my Daughter

So we had the Queenager's graduation ceremony on Saturday. Being the school that it is, the speeches were both funny, irreverent and touching. There were only 82 kids in the graduating class, which is a VERY small number in the States. This meant that every student was called across the stage individually and received their own personal appluase.

In the evening family and graduates had a party on a roof deck at the end of Navy Pier in Chicago. The weather for the three days last week when we needed it to be great, was suitably miserable. The graduation party started out a little wet, but the kids didn't care and were soon out on the terrace dancing to the DJ's picks. As soon as the drizzle stopped, the wimpy parents stepped out to watch the kids. Inevitably, one of us (who shall remain  nameless) sidled up to the DJ and asked for "something from the 80's" and before you knew it, the floor was packed with 40-something's doing their thang.

At past parent/child dances, the kids by this time, would have been seen fleeing to the far corners, muttering about embarrassing, unhip parents. This time however, we all ended up in a huge circle with parent and unembarrassed child taking a turn in the middle - together. One dad was so touched he talked about it later with tears in his eyes. Although that could have been the margeritas!

All very cringy in retrospect, but the chance to dance with my Queenager (without being made fun of)- priceless.

12 comments:

  1. I'm not even allowed to dance in the kitchen on my own so I shall look forward to this stage of adolescence!
    That photo is perfect - it seems to say so much about young people on the brink of adulthood, looking to the excitement of the future. Or is that me getting all soppy?

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  2. Not cringe inducing at all. Lovely. Something you will remember always.

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  3. Sounds like it will be a wonderful memory for years to come.
    Loved the firework pic.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  4. Ah, congratulations to the graduate! How lovely that you were able to share it with her.

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  5. I agree, Not being told youre an embarrassment truly priceless. But what a fantastic memory to share. Congratulations queenager!

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  6. Great photo, wonderful graduation, (speaking as one who knows: Son #1 just graduated in a class of 500+...)and the closeness with your daughter - a precious memory to treasure.

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  7. Lovely posts about Queenie...xxxx She is a credit to you and her dad A gorgeous, gorgeous girl, who is going to grow into a gorgeous woman. x

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  8. Really sweet. Even teenagers have their moments then, huh? Congrats to the Queenager!

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  9. Brilliant image - I can completely see all you mums and dads grooving alongside your teens. This reminds me of countless family weddings when I've been dragged onto the dancefloor and completely upstaged by own mum! x

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  10. Was she drinking? Seriously I welled up reading this, how sweet!

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  11. That's only 4 years away for me. Wow. Sounds like you all created some lovely special memories.

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The more the merrier....

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