I am thinking about putting Ella in a special needs dance class. This isn't the class, but it's a good example of what it will look like. Joe and I watched the clip from the Today Show and were both crying. It's amazing how it just hits us that Ella's life and future is so different, and that there are struggles we don't even know in her life. I tow the line between wanting her to be cognitive, and not wanting her to know what she's incapable of doing. Now, for my mother-in-law, I'm NOT saying that Ella won't be able to do a lot of things or that God can't heal her or even that there aren't a great deal of things that Ella CAN do, but this post is about dancing. Yes, Ella shakes her shoulders...it's adorable, rare and precious when done. When having a daughter I think it's hard not to picture pink tights and leotards and tutus...I mean, it's part of being a girl. You want to be a princess and a ballerina and a if you live here, a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. They are all fun to dress up like for Halloween and pretend when you play make believe. I want those things for Ella, and yet I have NO idea if she wants them for herself. I know, there will be those of you who think I should just let her be a little girl without making her do all of those things, but to me, that's PART of being a little girl.
So, we are considering putting her in classes and just letting her tell us if she enjoys it or not. We won't know till we try and we have to be sensitive because it's not like she'll just look at me and say "I love it" or "I hate it". Communication is a huge issue around here right now.