All three of our daughters began taking dance class at two years old. I was never a dancer, but we happened to know the owners of our local studio and several parents we knew had kids who went there. We quickly fell in love with the inclusive community. I remember saying, way back when after watching the older kids interacting and hanging out in between classes, “If this is where my kids want to spend their time when they get older, I’m all for it.”

Fast forward and my kids are getting older. Wren joined the Dance Company last year, meaning she gets to compete in a few competitions each year and we get to pay a lot more money for dance. Wren also spends a lot of time at the dance studio and it has been a very pleasant and rewarding experience for our entire family.

This year, Wren was invited to participate in an Affinity Dance, the first of it’s kind at the studio. You can read more about the intention behind this dance in a social media post the studio posted last week:

Yesterday, Wren came home and announced that her class was doing projects for Women’s History Month. When I asked her who she was going to study, she said, “Shirley Temple.”

I laughed. We just started letting her order Shirley Temples when we go to restaurants. I had to believe that this the inspiration behind her choice.

“What about Miriam Makeba?” I suggested. “Did you know that your Affinity Dance is inspired by a person? You could probably help teach other people at dance about her too.”

Her reaction told me that she wasn’t into my idea. Although, she quickly grabbed my phone and did a search, maybe to confirm that Miriam Makeba was a real person. She started reading off ridiculous facts and I could tell she wasn’t taking my suggestion seriously.

Tonight, as everyone settled in after a day at school and then dance, Wren asked if she could use my computer. “What for?” I asked.

“My teacher said if I was going to change the person I was researching, I should do some of the work at home,” she replied.

“Oh,” I said nonchalantly. “Who did you decide to research?”

“Makeba,” she said coolly as she rushed off to work.

A while later, Wren called for help in taking a screenshot on my computer. I left the kitchen to join her in the dining room. I showed her how to capture on an image and then watched her work some magic to erase backgrounds and manipulate several images on her slides.

As I walked back to the kitchen, I asked, “Do you know anything about her or are you just making slides?”

“I read all day at school,” she replied. “I know everything.”

Arnauld who had just arrived home from work and was catching up on the happenings of the day by listening in said, “That sounds about right for Wren.”

He’s not wrong.