fighting off the stage mom monster

Tonight is my girls FIRST dance recital.

Deep breath. Exhale.

I’m totally nervous for them. Mainly because they have NO IDEA what is going to happen. They’ve only rehearsed to an practically empty room.  I can see them getting up and seeing all those people and saying, "No, thank you! I don’t want to dance!"
(And by "No, thank you" I mean "freezing or standing there crying.")
(And by "them" I mean "Ellie." Grace is a true performer, who LOVES to show off in front of large crowds. This includes doing ballerina spins in front of the church while her brother is getting baptized.)

Anyway, I’m trying not to be a stage mom. But I love dance. I vividly remember MY first dance recital when I was 5. (I can still sing the song we danced to!) I want them to do well.  I want to help them and be supportive.
It has been SO HARD to RESTRAIN myself from making them practice their dance, going over it until they know it perfectly, talking to them constantly about smiling and not picking noses (or wedgies) on stage. It is seriously hard to watch them doing it wrong – I want to run up there and correct them. When they come over after performing their dance, I want to say "Great job! But next time, remember to…."

But I’m not doing it. I will NOT be THAT mom. I will let them do this on their own. I’m not going to be concerned about their performance right now. Or how they are learning the positions, what method they are using, etc. My goal is for them to have lots of fun. I want them to love dance, to really enjoy it and want to keep doing it. Not be anxious about their performance and thinking it has to be perfect and making them practice and practice until they hate it.
I will remember they are only 3 and 5, not auditioning for the New York City Ballet.
I want them to know I am proud of them – even when they trip, bump into each other and pick their noses on stage.