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My Daughter's Formal
By Chery Young
There have been many dreams that my heart could not dream as my daughter Nicole was
growing up. I still remember the gentle tug of my heart strings when I saw a mother with
her daughter walking into a dance studio to become a little ballerina or a Mom and
daughter at the gym in an exercise class. I used to even feel that same heart ache on a
beautiful fall day at the beach when I would walk by a young girl holding her mother's
hand running out of the waves, and I would wish I could do the dame with my daughter.
For a while, although I did not see it, I stopped dreaming and looking ahead ... in fact
Nicole did not even walk until age 5 and 4 more major surgeries later, she walks with a
walker. It is through her belief that she absolutely can do everything, perhaps
differently, that my heart opened up and started to feel the Joy and the excitement.
Most recently my daughter surprised me by telling me she was going to the Formal at her
high school. She told me her good friend is taking her, as a friend, and she was smiling
so much and talking about shopping for a dress...the shoes, her flowers...it was so
perfectly exciting.
I was so overwhelmed with happiness...even happy when the VP called to discuss how there
would be someone in to let her through the ramp area of the dance and that there would be
women there to keep a special eye out if Nicole needed assistance. Everyone wanted the
Formal to be special, not just for Nicole but for all the students
On the day of the Formal we started out with a hair appointment. From there, we had her
nails done. When that was done, we went to pick up her flowers. We had to rush through all
of these things because Nicole was going to have a makeover. When it all was complete,
Nicole looked like an angel. The sparkle in her eyes told of her joy. Her date came and
they posed for pictures, practiced slow dancing and even went to a pre party with some of
the other students.
I was not at the dance but I have to say that the way I Nicole went on talking until 1:30
am is something I will never forget! " Oh Mom, all the girls looked like Cinderella
and they wore dresses without straps. And boy am I glad I could wear my tennis shoes
because all of the girls were carrying their shoes. Tee! Hee!. Mom, Michael would only
slow dance (ah ha). That was OK because I danced the fast songs with my girlfriend. Oh
yea! and the best part was that they played Brittany Spears music, but the worst part was
that I was in the bathroom when they did! Mom...it was like everyone was together, one big
group." When I asked her if she would ever want to go again she said in a LIMO and
she said very sleepily that being beautiful takes a long time....she was referring to her
getting ready for the prom.
My thoughts were that I had the most beautiful Prom daughter in the world. And that the
red walker went well with the colors of her dress. And also I was happy she slow danced,
at 17 she had to wait a long time. But it seems that through the magic of that dance, we
both began to Dream Again.
By Cheryl Young
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