Pageant Moms

Pageant Mom:

She walked into the rehearsal hall with attitude. With her stylish short blond hair perfect, her expensive clothes freshly pressed, and her make-up professional done.
I watched as she glanced over me.
Dismissing me with my long brown hair hanging in my face, old jeans and T-shirt, and no make-up. Not up to her standards.
The miniature her trailed slowly behind with her hands pressed together. Pretty little girl much like her mom, but huh, you have to wonder if she had the same personality.
They didn’t sit with us but took seat 4 rows behind.
That’s okay. This isn’t my first time. I’ve put years into this. I know what to expect.
Once rehearsal starts the kids take the stage.
I’m proud of my daughter. She looks beautiful up there dancing. Her love for the music lighting up.
I talk with the other moms. Comment on how the light catches the glitter in the costume.
Up on stage the girls twirl and dance. Getting steadier on their feet. We applaud as they finish up.
Kisses and hugs are given as the next class takes the stage. Time to switch costumes. We praise our girls and begin to work on exchanging the dresses.
All but one mom. I can hear her behind me pointing out mistakes.
I shake my head.
The mom is only repeating what the instructor already said.
I can see the tears shining in the little girls eyes.
I get angry.
The girls are here for fun! At this age we are lucky they remember the entire routine.
But I let it go, none of my business.
My little one twirls in the puffy dress. Look at me! She calls.
Yes she is beautiful and having so much fun.
We’ve worked hard for this. 9 months of classes three times a week. But in the end it’s all worth it.
The other class finishes and the teenagers take the stage.
They are classic and talented. Hard work showing from years of practice.
That is what our children strive for.
With bobby pins in my mouth I change my daughter’s hair style from curly pony-tail to a high bun.
Four years has taught me the easiest way to do this. After I am finished we switch kids.
I put the next girl’s hair up as her mom helps my girl with her bows.
We work as a team. One mom doing the same for each girl so they looked uniformed and perfect.
All but one.
We’d barley finished with the class was called back on stage.
It would be worse the day of the program with costume changes. But we’d get plenty of practice today.
The girls go through the routine once. Then a second time. On the third the pageant mom stands up and walks over to the teacher.
We can all her say. “Excuse me but I really think ‘Susie’ should be up front.”
We all exchange looks.
It wasn’t because my kid was one of the ones up front.
It wasn’t because this woman was a snob.
It was because she was taking the joy of dance from her daughter that I enjoyed the look the teacher gave.
As the teacher quietly but forcefully dressed the woman down I smiled and leaned back in my chair.
I could have warned her not to address the teacher.
I could have. I knew what she was going up there for. But I didn’t.
And I smiled when the lady was told “If she didn’t like it she could leave and come back at Five and pick her daughter up.
Yes I could have warned her that I’d seen parents get kicked out for less than that.
But like the sign in the entrance says. “We don’t need Pageant Moms.”