It was a rewarding day at Miller’s. Amanda was all smiles as she was greeted after class. Teaching the mother and baby class had been a bit of an adventure. At first, she wondered if she was even capable. For one, she’d never taught such a class, and then there was Elia’s mood—what if her baby girl had decided to be fussy and totally uncooperative? To her pleasant surprise, Elia had been a perfect example during her mother and baby class. A few times she'd attempted to crawl away, but they’d made it through the class.
After a break, it was time for the mothers’ ballet class. Amanda wondered why she’d never known of such a class while her two older children were infants. It was a splendid idea. Elia seemed to actually like being strapped to Amanda’s chest. Perhaps it was the closeness, but either way, Amanda was relieved. As she stood in front of her classroom of mothers with their own infants strapped to their chests, she demonstrated. “Tendu, back to first, plie and straighten." She recited the mantra over and over. As she demonstrated chaines turns across the floor, twirling Elia around in the midst, the baby girl giggled. She was enjoying this treat, for certain. It wasn’t until near the end of the class that she decided it was time for lunch. She tugged rather aggressively at Amanda’s shirt, making her chuckle. Amanda ended up having to distract her with a few more turns. Then at last, she made it through the class. It was a great start to a new career. Once Elia was strapped into her car seat again, in the parking lot of Miller’s, Amanda sent a text to her husband, inquiring if she could bring some pizza or something to the Barthel household. Niels was helping Rico set up a new baby nursery, and her children were most likely having a blast with their cousin Lucie. As much as Amanda enjoyed working again, and even though she’d had fleeting thoughts about a professional dance career, there was one thing she could never trade. Her family.
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Amanda at a GlanceNames: Amanda Pontremoli, Amanda van Loon Archives
August 2017
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