So every evening as I wait for Bill to get home from work I find myself gazing longingly at the clock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Where is my reinforcement? I think this end of the day fade is true for most parents — the kids are spent, parents are fried, but it's not quite time for bed. In the past during this last stretch, I would give Gwendolyn a video and I would cuddle up next to her on my laptop. We both happily vegged out. But, the end result has been we both get sucked into no-man's land and pretty much zone out. And then when Bill comes home — jolly to see his loving family — we are like zombies. Not always (there's nothing wrong with a good old fashioned veg out), but often enough that mindless facebooking put me in a funk — and that's no fun at all. So last week I spontaneously started a trend — Dance Party USA! And dancing is the best remedy for a funk! Gwendolyn LOVES music — always has. And Gwendolyn is her Mama's girl — she LOVES, loves, loves to dance! It takes a little finesse with the bipap, but I figured out a comfortable way for both of us to rock out and she thinks its hysterical.
- Step 1: Turn the TV to the music stations.
- Step 2: Pick a channel/song — Gwendolyn is partial to Top Pop, Kids Only, and Party Favorites.
- Step 3: Feel the beat.
- Step 4: Sit on the edge of the couch — one with bounce preferred — child in lap.
- Step 5: Bounce, Move, Shake, Lean Back, Arms Up, Fist Pump, Slow It Down, Pick It Up, Groove
I tried to get video, but it so doesn't do Dance Party USA justice. Gwendolyn is more of a live performer and goes all serious when the video camera comes out — sheesh!