Daddy Daughter Dance

Last weekend, our elementary school sponsored their first annual Daddy Daughter Dance.  One of our PTSO committee members had helped with a similar activity at her previous school, and she really pushed to have a dance at our school.  I am so glad she did!  It was an amazing night.  We were hoping for a big turnout, but we were all stunned by how many dads/grandpas came with the girls.  It was a huge success, and several people have already said how excited they are for next year's dance. 

Even though Rachel is in 6th grade (elementary school in most areas), here in our county 6th grade is middle school, so Julia is our only grade-school daughter.  She wouldn't have minded "sharing" Steve for the night, but I think she was pretty tickled to have that one-on-one date with her Dad.  Steve bought her a pretty little corsage, and here is Julia modeling her outfit (while waiting for Daddy to finish getting ready).

At the school, the girls and their dads signed in on pretty scrapbook paper, then they took a little questionnaire to fill out together.  It was a list of "favorites" with two columns, one for the dad and one for the daughter.  We hoped it would break the ice a bit and help the dads and daughters learn a little more about each other.  We noticed that a few dads came back to the gym after the dance was over, hoping to grab their "favorites" paper that they had forgotten.  I thought that was sweet.

Before the dancing began, there were some yummy treats to sample.  The ladies who prepared the food did such an excellent job!  It was a beautiful spread (the chocolate fountains were a smashing success).

We had a local photographer (one of the moms at our school), who set up a backdrop for photos.  I think almost everyone got their picture taken.  I am looking forward to seeing the pictures of Steve and Julia.

I was in charge of the music, which at first I thought would be no big deal, but as the dance drew closer I honestly lost sleep over it!  I had this fear that everyone would think the songs were lame, or that the girls would be on the dance floor alone, sort of talking/dancing, and the dads would be in the background talking to each other about bike rides or college basketball.  I never imagined that we would get so much participation!  It didn't hurt that the sound system was amazing, generously lent to us by my brother-in-law, Sean.  Anyway, I guess I just didn't give the dads enough credit beforehand -- they all turned out to be dancing fools!  Here is a cute picture of Steve and Julia.  My favorite part about this pic?  If you look closely, you'll notice chocolate on Julia's hand and mouth.  As I said before, the chocolate fountain was a smashing success! 

I agonized over the playlist, but should have known that when it comes to elementary-aged girls, you can't go wrong with Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and a little Lady Gaga or Black-Eyed Peas (I threw in some Coldplay and other "grown-up" music for the dads).  It was the YMCA, though, that really got everyone out of their seats and onto the dance floor.

There were honestly a few times during the evening when I was wiping away tears.  I think it was a very special evening for the girls, and maybe even more so for the dads.  When the song "Daughters" by John Mayer was playing, I noticed this little girl looking so lovingly up at her Dad, that I had to snap a picture.  I think this captures the essence of our night.

Yay for Dads who adore their Daughters!!!

 

Comments

[Lindsay]

What an awesome activity! How sweet to see all those girls with their dads. It makes me a little teary eyed! Julia is a beautiful girl.

[Emily]

Sounds like a good time to me....BTW I loved having middle school. 6th graders seem a little old for elementary...so it is a fun transition (at least the way we did it).

[Lydia]

Wow! What a success. Looks like everyone is having fun. How fun that you got to be there to witness it as well.

[Andrea]

Awwww....that is so cute!!! How fun for Julia. I am imagining Leah doing that with her daddy someday. So sweet!

[Danae]

Oh my goodness! That is darling and I am wiping a few of my own tears away. What a sweet activity - something they will always remember!
p.s. I am so glad that you are back to blogging. I have missed seeing your cute family and hearing what you are up to!

[Allison]

Thanks for sharing that. That looked like the funnest activity. I should recommend that to our PTA, the only problem is that if I suggest it I'll probably have to be in charge of it. I shudder at the thought. :) And I ditto Lydia, how fun for you to be there too.

[Natalie]

Hi Mindy! I just caught up on your last years worth of blogness - I never switched my link to your new blog address, which really slowed me down on checking it. However, so glad I did! Your stories and your family always make me smile, and I love that about you. There is something so genuine and sincere about you and your sweet family. You bring others up, without even trying, it seems. And that is so rare these days.

Thanks for being you.

[Michelle]

How cute! What a special night :). I loved going on Daddy daughter dates when I was little.