American Girl Fashion Show

We have a local American girl fashion show in our town which raises money for a wonderful foundation that serves families with children struggling with congenital heart defects. There are four shows over a weekend, with about 50 young girls in each show. Annelise heard some of her friends were in this and she wanted to participate as well. I thought it was a great opportunity to support the foundation and for our daughter to learn to stand up in front of an audience, and practice some poise. Our first grader gives a short presentation in front of peers each week, but rarely has had to stand up or do any performing in front of an audience. She is usually bounding with energy, but poise is always something to seek in a girl growing super fast.

So to prepare for this show, there was a dress rehearsal which was really fun time to meet other girls and learn what is expected. Leeesie learned she could walk, hold a doll, and smile, but not skip, run or twirl. Annelise enjoyed trying on the American girl outfit (to be sure it fit) and meeting a few new friends, and seeing some dolls. A couple weeks later, the day of the show arrived just a few days after Leesie turned six. She had just received her own Rebecca doll for her birthday and was super excited about the show. She was having a great week. Yet, Mom was a little concerned that dear daughter might have some stage fright. She wanted her to practice a few times at home. So Leesie practiced running and skipping around with her doll. Oh no! Mom heavily sighs wiht her coffee. Never fear! Dad, just waking up himself, saved the day and showed her how to walk head high with her doll in arm. No twirling now, no skipping, just walk and smile, smooth like this. A picture alone doesn't really do this moment justice.

Dad's confident catwalk with Leesie's new doll caused some fits of hysteria in all the kids.

So then the brothers chimed in, and everyone was only too happy to show Leesie 'how it's done.' The boys were having a lot of fun!

See Leesie, just watch us, we'll show you.

Me too! Johnny was more than disappointed that the show didn't include boys. He thought that was so unfair. 

 So we attended the show on a Sunday afternoon. Just two parents, in a banquet hall with more pink tulle than most weddings, and lots of flowers and feminine touches than most baby showers. Mom thought Dad was eyeing the door when he realized it would take two hours to sit through this, but sit through this he did, for his girl. (He was however following more than one game on his iphone discreetly.) The show was all about explaining the character of the dolls and the historical time period they lived in, and then girls walked out holding the character dolls and wearing a matching outfit. It was a corporate celebration of girl-ness. The feminine part was fun for Mom, being a girl and enjoying learning about the history of the dolls in their time period. We are always trying to make history come alive and if the books serve to do this, we'll enjoy them. I was also marveling at the corporate planning to sell products this way. For Dad, being such well,  guy, this was a  bit more of a sacrifice...making it through two hours of clapping and smiling at nervous girls, and celebrating their love of dolls. The tulle and sparkle were  everywhere! There were several other supportive Dads and Grandpas there to clap and encourage their girls too. Then the talk about the Foundation and the parents who lost their daughter at three and who they now serve left us as parents crying, of course.

 Toward the end of the show Annelise came out with some other girls showing their line of winter clothes and their bitty babies. She was the picture of confidence, even though she was the youngest age category. She was hot in the dress, coat, and heavy hat, but didn't complain. Well no worries in the shyness department or performance. She was all smiles and confident. Daddy met her with a bouquet of roses afterward to  congratulate her on doing well. Most of the parents did the same. Some of the girls barely made it through the show with some tears, and some were very nervous, so we were happy that she did it and she had fun.

 Our sweet little girl had no idea how both her parents really wanted a relaxing afternoon home and a little nap before a hectic week begins. We had just celebrated two birthdays and it was a full week. But instead we went to this show for her and watching her joy made it so worthwhile.

 So this week our little American girl turned six, and she got her own doll, (something she got to want for a long while) and she enjoyed being in a doll show. We learned that dolls and girls can have a lot of fun and for a good cause. On the drive home Dad asked her, "Honey, didn't you have to wait a really long time backstage before coming out?" We calculated it was well over an hour after the intermission, and we couldn't see her sitting there all that time waiting. She quickly replied with lots of exhuberence, "Yes Dad, IT TOOK FOREVER!!!" So maybe the lesson was really more about patience for her than poise and selflessness on a Sunday afternoon for her parents. We all went home to the other kids who thanks to their Auntie had escaped the overly feminine afternoon of corporate moneymaking and noted our house had much more simple surroundings without the hundreds of yards of pink tulle. Dad put his feet up and I'm pretty sure he mumbled something about being really grateful to be home.