Dance Off!

Sometimes looking good isn’t about the amount of sleep you get, the lack of bags under your eyes, or perfect hair. It may even be one of those jeans-fit-great-days, but your kid is cranky, you’ve had a bad phone call, and lunch at the high-chair was a disaster. That’s when you need a healthy thing called an at-home dance off.

Almost everyday, around the toddler witching hour (4-6 pm), I crank up the stereo and smooth out my daughter A’s whines with some rejuvenating hip and ass shaking. My favorite song of the moment for rump-shakin’ is Beyoncé's (with Jay-Z)  "Crazy in Love."  A may only be 17 months old but she's half black and will need to learn to move that ass at some point so why not start now?

I grab A’s hands and we boogie: twirling, skipping, jumping and she'll even roll on the floor. It dawns on me that I haven't smiled all day and suddenly I'm giggling as I see her push out her tiny rump trying to copy me. Like magic, all the tension that’s been building up inside of me slips away. And when I look at the living room mirror I see a happy me. We’ll even take it to the dinner table and keep bouncing and head-bopping while we eat. This kind of Happy is something you definitely can't buy in a bottle and apply.

During these moments, A and I are in our own little physical and free world. I’m teaching her that if you truly indulge in the beauty of the moving moment, wherever it takes you, it’s going to be good.

It’s easy to get trapped in the gripping schedule your life and kids command, and forget how important it is to break out once in a while and just celebrate. To smile. To bust-a-move. To let go.

Get Down 1-2-3:

1. Earth, Wind & Fire: September

2. Justin Timberlake: Rock Your Body

3. Kylie Minogue: Love at First Sight

I want to hear from you! What is your favorite song to dance to at home? 

Note: Depending on the age of your child, you may want to listen to the lyrics first.

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.