Ballerina Perfection

Here are a couple pictures of our sweet ballerina. When Madeline was born, I thought we would be perfect parents. I had read so many parenting books, and Matt and I had spent hours upon hours discussing how we would parent. Of course, parenting has turned out to be much more difficult and not so clear cut. Though Madeline loves ballet, she does not like her ballet class. After one session she told me that she did not want to go back. Of course I asked her why and she told me that she did not like it because she was not very good at it. At her age, none of the little girls are very good at it, as their bodies are still developing fine and gross motor skills. Anyway, Matt and I went to great lengths explaining how no one is good at something when they first begin, but as they practice, they get better and better. However, this little lesson is not sinking in, as she persists in saying the same thing after each ballet class. For me as a parent, it makes me nervous to see this trait in her, as I don't want her to feel like she has to be perfect at everything. I was and am that way and it did and does keep me from trying new things, and I don't want this for her. Though her personality may tend toward perfectionism, I hope we can steer her to have confidence and try new things regardless of how good or bad she is.