Dance Party!

My husband travels with his work several times each month.  Sometimes it’s just a quick overnight, but sometimes he’s gone for several days or a week at a time.   To help the time go by for my son, we have several special rituals:  we eat pancakes for dinner at least one night; my son gets to sleep in the big bed with me; we plan dinners with friends; and we have a dance party, complete with a glass of wine for mom and a Shirley Temple for my son.  

Last night was dance party night.  It usually involves cranking up the iPod and dancing throughout our kitchen-family room area while we take turns picking songs and showing off our best moves.  My songs are usually show tunes or standards, which I belt out at the top of my lungs, doing my best Lea Michelle or Sutton Foster impersonation.  My son’s tastes tend towards Green Day, Journey, and the various soundtracks of “Glee”.   The dance party finale is always the mother-son dance, cheek-to-cheek.  Last night, the selection was “Happy Days are here again” … the original recording with Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland….classic! 

So, there we are…dancing close….my struggling to move gracefully under his increasing, almost-six-year-old weight, with the following conversation:

ME:  At your wedding, we are going to have a special dance just like this.  You and me. 

SON:  Okay, but I’m going to pick the song. 

ME:  We’ll see…

SON:  When I get married, is there going to be a microphone?  I’m only going to go to the wedding, if there is a microphone.  I have a lot of announcements to say.  Actually, there might not be any time for dancing.

(My son wanting a microphone is nothing new.  He already has several.  He loves to announce things.  I’m thinking he might be the next Ryan Seacrest.)

ME:  What announcements do you have to make?

SON:  First, I’m going to say thank you to my parents for being the best parents that I ever had.  Then, I’m going to thank Ms. Nathani for teaching me about all the planets.  Then, I’m going to tell Max that I’m sorry for being mean to him at JumpZone today.  Then, I’m going to ask my wife if she wants to get a dog.  Then, I’m going to announce people who want to tell jokes.  And, THEN, we can dance.  But, I really want to pick the song. 

ME:  That IS a lot of announcements. 

SON:  Remember….I’m only coming to the wedding if there is a microphone.

(No worries.  I’ve already added it to the event budget. )

I always gripe about having to be the single parent when my husband is traveling on long trips, but I really wouldn’t trade these special rituals with my son.  He’s growing up so fast.  After that conversation with him, I laid awake for a long time.  Thinking of him at his own wedding, heading off into his own life, makes me so sad.  I guess I get to look forward to grandchildren, but THAT just makes me feel old.  So, in true Scarlet O’Hara fashion, “I’ll just think about that tomorrow.”

And, for today, I’ll check the calendar for my husband’s next trip, and start working on my show tune lineup for the next dance party.  That makes me smile.