A Retired Dance Mom’s Christmas Confession

There is something sacred about December. Not the quiet, candle-lit kind (although we love that too), but the holy chaos kind, where joy shows up in unexpected places and God gently reminds us to slow down and remember.

And for me, December has always meant one thing:

🎄 Christmas dance recitals. 🎄

Except… plot twist.

This year, I’m a retired dance mom.

No backstage call times.No costume racks taking over my living room.No frantic “WHERE ARE YOUR TAP SHOES?!” moments before sunrise.

And while my coffee schedule has improved significantly, my heart? Well… it still remembers.

Retired… But Still a Dance Mom at Heart

It’s been three years since my last official Christmas recital season, and I won’t lie, I miss it.

I miss the chaos. I miss the music blasting in the car on repeat. I miss the familiar feeling of juggling hairspray, safety pins, and prayer.

Because when you’ve lived through Christmas recital seasons with three girls, those memories don’t just disappear when the stage lights dim.

They linger.

 The Cutest Costumes (That Required Olympic-Level Creativity)

"A Glo original"

Let’s talk about the Christmas costumes, because they deserve their own altar call.

The tiny Santa hats that never stayed on. The itchy velvet dresses. The sequins and rhinestones. So many rhinestones.

And the moments when moms had to get real creative:

·      Sewing things back on five minutes before stage time

·      Reinforcing straps with bobby pins and faith

·      Turning “this should fit” into “this will work”

If you know, you know. (Shout out to my bestie Glo for always having my girls on point.. She's literally the Columbian Martha Stewart)

 But somehow, once those girls stepped on stage, smiling, sparkling, and proud, it was all worth it.

My Favorite Memory: Christmas Parades on Foot

My oldest last parade 2022

Out of all the recitals, rehearsals, and performances, one of my absolute favorites will always be the Christmas parades.

Picture this: The girls dancing and performing the entire route.Crowds cheering.Music echoing through downtown streets.

And there we were, the moms, walking alongside them, handing out water bottles like trained professionals, cheering them on while trying not to trip over curbs.

Cold hands. Warm hearts. Pure joy.

Those moments didn’t feel rushed.They felt right.

Like God pressing pause just long enough to say,

“This matters. Remember this.”

Walking Down Memory Lane (Even If I’m Not There This Year)

This season looks different now.

I won’t be sitting in an auditorium scanning the stage for familiar faces. I won’t be rushing from one performance to the next. I won’t be stuffing programs into my purse for keepsakes.

And yet… every time I hear Christmas music this month, my heart goes back.

To the tights. To the tutus. To the little girls who grew up far too fast.

Being a retired dance mom doesn’t mean the memories stop showing up, it just means they come back quieter, sweeter, and wrapped in gratitude.

This December, I want to intentionally slow down and reflect.

To look back. To honor seasons that shaped me. To find Jesus not just in the peaceful moments but in the busy ones that once filled my days.

Because God was there too. In the dressing rooms. In the parades. In the late nights and early mornings.

And even now, three years removed, He’s still teaching me how to release, remember, and rejoice.

Because Christmas isn’t just about what we’re doing now, it’s also about what God has already done.

✨ Here’s to the seasons we survived, the memories we cherish, and the God who carried us through them all.

With Love & Nostalgia,

Raquel 💜🎄🩰