Let me start off by saying that I don’t like dancing. At weddings, I’m the one sitting by the dessert table and avoiding the dance floor. I like music, but it doesn’t make me want to get on my feet and dance.
But something changed for me this winter. The sun was setting at 4:30, it was too cold to go outside, and it didn’t feel like there was much joy in our family’s days. I was struggling to return to work after maternity leave and my husband was busy with a new job. Our 2 year old was restless from too much screen time and our baby was exhausted from starting daycare.
One evening, in an effort to avoid multiple meltdowns (me included), I instituted an emergency family dance party. The music came on and we danced. And danced. And danced. We ran through Youtube recordings of songs from Disney’s Encanto, and nursery rhymes, as well as some of my husband’s and my favorite songs. Our toddler was in pure heaven, getting undivided attention from both parents at the same time. Her shrieks of joy and laughter were heavenly. I wore the baby in a carrier so she could join in on the fun. My husband and I got to dance together for the first time since…2019? It was a wonderful way to reconnect and find some joy during a really busy week.
That first family dance party saved us from a full family meltdown. Now we try to do them every once in a while when we have some energy to burn or we just need a little joy. It’s a new way for me to enjoy being a mom with an energetic family. And is there anything better than a toddler requesting to listen to more Lizzo?
