Parenting teaches us many things including dances!
Don’t believe me?
Here are the dances that you’ll learn once you sign up for the epic dance lessons of parenting.
Parenting teaches many things including dances? Which dance are you learning? #parenting Share on X
The Chicken Dance
I learned this dance when we were released from the hospital. I remember looking at the nurse and thinking, “Really? You’re letting us take this baby home? But we have no idea what we’re doing!”
I was right in thinking such things too. It took us almost 3 weeks to build up the nerve to bathe our baby for the first time. The experience of bathing her scared us so much that from then on we bathed her only once a week afterwards.
I remember being nervous about so many things. In fact, I Googled things daily:
* What is a serious fever for a baby?
* What do you do if your baby isn’t pooping?
* Is there something wrong with your baby if they sleep too much?
We were also the parents who rushed our baby to the emergency room because she wouldn’t stop crying.
Yes, the newborn stage was definitely the most fearful time of parenthood.
The Limbo
The dance of babyhood. You have to learn how to bend over backwards for this new little person in your life. Midnight feedings, poops in the bathtub, colic, gas, spit-ups, crying jags, and diaper blow-outs… this is life with a baby. Flexibility is a must!
The Robot
This dance spans about the next three years of a child’s life. Routines and schedules… schedules and routines. The monotony can drive a parent crazy but we do it because it’s necessary and it keeps our kids happy by knowing exactly what to expect.
The Polka
This dance takes place from the age of 5 to 10. This stage can be a blast! Your child can do a lot of things by themselves but they’re still not too cool to spend time with their over-the-hill folks. This is the time of board games, movies, chats, and fun.
However, this is also the time of busy schedules, birthday parties, play dates, and extra-curricular activities. The flurry of activity can be exhausting and dizzying.
Breakdancing
The dance of the pre-teen and teen years. First you’re standing up and then next thing you know you’re spinning around on the floor with your feet up in the air. You may have to work your parenting magic with the “worm” and wiggle your way into your child’s affections.
This dance is exhausting and takes a serious amount of skill. If you can be spontaneous, flexible, and have the ability to improvise, you just might survive.
The Waltz
Ah, the dance of all dances. Your kids are out of the house and you get to watch them raise their own children. You suddenly feel skilled, accomplished, and dignified in the decades of work you put into your own children.
So there you have it… the dances of parenthood. Each dance needs time, practice, and patience. The dance can’t be rushed. Each step is important and just when you think you’re done one dance, another starts.
SHARE WITH OTHERS
I love this and you are so right parenting does encompass many different dances over the years and you most definitely summed them up perfectly here! Wishing you a wonderful week now, Jennifer xoxo :)
Just imagine what great dancers we’ll be at the end of our parenting journey Janine!
Wishing you a lovely week as well.
Hi Jennifer, how was your break? Beautiful! Don’t we all love these “Dance Steps”.
Love this post! I guess I have to figure out what dance steps I am making now.
Loads of Blessings and have a fruitful week ahead.
Yes, so many dance steps to learn and practice. It’s one big dance!
Wishing you a lovely week as well.
HAHAHAHA loved this, especially the visuals I got, like the robot and the breakdancing lol. And the worm!!! Haha! This is so true and you captured every phase with the right dance. Too bad we can’t just skip to the waltz and feel like we know what we’re doing while they’re still living with us lol. Great post Jennifer!
I had such fun writing this. I love the robot LOL.
Yeah, I wish I could skip to the waltz too… unfortunately we have other dances we must master first.
What a creative post!! I’m sure all these phases have such truth!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Caroline. I had fun writing it!
Cute! I will remember this tonight when I watch Dancing with the Stars as they add new dances to their routines I will be thinking about your post and the comparisons. LOL!
Yes! This post would be funny to think about as you watch Dancing with the Stars – although I’m certain they won’t be doing the chicken dance LOL.
Oh I love this! So much truth in this! Great visuals Jennifer! We are definitely in the robot phase. Routines and schedules are our best friend, haha!
I’m trying to enjoy each phase but can’t wait for the waltz!
xoxo
I feel the same way. I want to enjoy all these phases but the Waltz looks so ideal!
Glad you enjoyed this my friend. Now go get your robot on! LOL
Laughing and nodding my head all the way through this! What about the Running Man? There are some days I’d like to run away for a little bit, even if it is in a circle right back to what I’m running from. :)
I totally need the running man in here – because I go exactly through what you describe! I originally had “twerking” in here too (it is, after all, the dance that landed us this parenting gig in the first place). LOL
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the dances of parenting.
“Really? You’re letting us take this baby home? But we have no idea what we’re doing!” I THOUGHT THIS SAME THING!!!!!!!! It was so frightening, I couldn’t even sit in the front seat, but had to be right next to my baby all the way home (5 minute drive)!
Oh how I long to start polka dancing!!! I’ve got some time though… I must learn to enjoy ALL of it or at least laugh once the kids have gone to bed!! For now, I’ll just have to polka dance at my husband’s family reunion. :D
This is such a great metaphorical post. Love it.
How hilarious that you thought the same thing. I wonder how many other moms shared those thoughts too.
We have a long dance ahead of us! I’m delighted you enjoyed this Monica.
I love the metaphors. We are definitely in the polka phase right now. But every now and then I see him breakdance a little. My 6-year old will hold my hand walking into school, then shift away as if he’s trying to be cool in front of the older kids. He will dance with me when it’s just us…but when others come near he’s then too cool.
Glad you enjoyed this Caryn. Yes, we’re all about the polka here too… with a little bit of the robot. I’m sooooo not ready for breakdancing.
I’m doing the limbo, the robot and the polka at the same time! No wonder I’m exhausted!!
Wow! You’re certainly getting your groove on! lol
Yes, the eldest has just started school and I thought things might get a bit easier but it’s just added a whole lot of new things to the schedule and I’m still doing the baby and toddler stuff with the other two. By the time I get them all to school it will be time to add the breakdancing to the list!! Thanks for sharing with the #BlogFairLinkParty
I’m doing the robot and the polka right now simultaneously! It is such a struggle to keep up but we are loving every second! Very cute analogies….
I’m all about the robot and the polka right now too. It’s quite the workout!
Hi Jennifer! I guess I have experienced all these dances at each point in my parenting life. I never thought of it as dancing though, it’s a good image! I would think that most parents look forward to their ‘waltz’ days, and sometimes I did too. I might miss the polka now and again though :)
Blessings,
Ceil
You’re waltzing Ceil… I try not to long for the waltz days because the polka and robot aren’t so bad. I know in a blink of an eye I’ll be waltzing and reminiscing about the other dances.
Yup.. just when you think you’re done, another dance starts up!
I’m in the Robot and the Polka right now. The Polka is a fine good time and it’s nice to think it’s just the beginning. This, I can do. I like these moves.
The dance doesn’t end. I’m in Robot and Polka too… ROBO-POLKA?! Regardless, I’m getting my groove on.
HAHA! This is all so true, great visuals! I was literally visualizing every dance and they all related to each stage so well! :) Thanks for sharing! You’re such an awesome writer, seriously!
I’m glad you enjoyed this Tawnya. I’m doing the Robo-Polka right now. It’s exhausting but I love it.
Haha, I am a terrible dancer in real life! According to your list though I am doing many different dances all at the same time. Awesome! Mad dancing mama sounds kind of nice!
Oooh, we could recite ABBA’s Dancing Queen for you! I’m doing the Robo-Polka… it’s exhausting but fun!
LOL but I do the worm much differently. My worm consists of dodging eye contact to avoid disturbing a seemingly perfect moment of peace.
LOL this is so funny
Oooh, you’re ahead of the game!
I’m doing two dances at once… it’s the Robo-Polka and it’s quite the workout!
Glad this gave you a laugh.
Haha. I love how true I’m already finding this to be! I think I have the chicken dance down pat by now. ;-)
You’ll master all the dances Susannah… I’m sure! I’m glad you enjoyed this.
Good thing we love dancing!
I was struck by your first dance, and the googling…we didn’t have internet when my first daughter was a baby (Holy crap am I old???). I wore out the pages of the “What to expect” books!
I love your analogy of parenting and dancing. It encourages me and gives me hope. Thank you
Oh, I remember Googling fevers all the time. I’m finding that the 5 to 10 age is a really cool!
This is such a unique perspective on parenting! I’m halfway between doing the limbo and a very unorganized, poorly oiled Robot :/
This is so creatively written! You are so lucky to be so inspired to write such profound things in such a meaningful and relatable manner. I have to admit I’m still in the Robot phase of motherhood, but as much as I love The Waltz, I’m not quite ready for it yet.
(Good thing I still have a long way to go!)
Oh no! With a four year old I’ve had quite a lot of practice at the robot so I’m pretty happy with how we do it now. We manage to mix routine for things like eating and sleeping with variety in between. It worrying to know I’ll have a whole new dance to learn in a few months.
Wish me luck!
And I thought that the only kind of dancing you do as a parent is the really goofy kind designed to embarrass the kids!
Oh, I love these metaphors! :) I sometimes still feel like I’m doing the chicken dance. Although I love each stage no matter how hard they are (well, in hindsight sometimes…like sleepless nights newborn stage), I look forward to learning some new dances. Thanks for this! Definitely put a smile to my face!
Fun analogy. Very true. Just keep on dancing, right?
What a great way of thinking about parenting! I think our dance party has multiple DJ’s playing songs at the same time! ;) Thank you for linking up with Waiting on…Wednesday! Hope to have you back in a few days!
Right now, I am doing the limbo and the robot. Somehow that seems like they don’t really go together. But somehow it does. Love this post! Can’t wait to waltz!
Hi Jennifer,
As a parent of a tween and a teen, in addition to my Breakdancing I find myself doing the Moonwalk very regularly.
As an official “embarrassing Dad” I often find myself making a hasty retreat as my presence is obviously NOT required, however, I still need to be facing forwards and providing guidelines and ground rules, while dodging the eye roles and sighs hurled in my direction.
Great post.
Thanks,
Matthew
Ooooh, I like the moonwalk thing – nice Matthew! I wish I had used that one.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on The Dances of Parenting!
I got goosebumps reading about the Chicken Dance. It is all to familiar. I also Googled everything you Googled. (and still do… I just did the temperature one this past weekend) lol. I have a few more dances to learn in my lifetime. I am as scared of the Polka as I was the Chicken Dance. But! What would life be without a good song to shimmy and shake to. I’ll be seeing you on the dance floor!
I used to joke that I couldn’t understand how parents coped before Google LOL. I Googled everything!
Thanks for joining me on the dance floor!
Haha!!! I love this!!! Parenthood really does encompass all these dances, and you have perfectly matched each dance with each stage in life!!!! Great post, my friend!!!! XO
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Alycia! I’m certain I’ll think of more dances along the way.
awesome post! I am loving the polka stage right now with my son! (in fact I am going to order some more board games later today!)
We love our games here! We often get the cooperative games (Peaceable Kingdom makes great ones)!