05/10/2026
To become a mom is an honor from God, but guiding your child through life’s lessons is a rite of passage.
As we wrap up Emma’s first season as an independent dancer, I can honestly say this year has transformed her.
She has built her own brand, grown tremendously in her technique, become stronger as an athlete, and persevered through mental hurdles that most people never see behind the curtain.
Leveling up in life is not easy. The pressure and strain that come with growth are very real.
Sometimes growth comes with losing friendships, shedding old versions of yourself, and stepping into a new season that feels uncomfortable.
That process is painful. It takes perseverance to let the old version of yourself die so the stronger version of you can come alive.
As a mom, it is hard watching your child walk through those stages of grief and change. But I have been through those seasons myself many times in life.
God knew when He gave me a daughter that I would be challenged not only to raise a daughter in today’s environment, but to mentor her and teach her how to become a strong, independent young woman who can one day stand firmly on her own two feet.
Almost a year ago, Emma came to me wanting more out of life and more out of dance. She knew deep down that she was no longer being challenged in the way her soul was craving.
That hit me hard because I understood that feeling completely. I knew if she stayed stagnant, she would become miserable.
So I listened, and we came up with a plan. Build your own.
Her tag line was born with her goal in mind!
I knew it would not be easy, but I also knew I was placed on this earth to be her mother, her mentor, and her guide.
She could either stay comfortable and unhappy, or push herself into something greater. And with challenge comes growth.
Did she second guess herself at times. Absolutely. But she kept pushing beyond the discomfort. Out of that came one of the greatest life lessons she could learn:
You do not have to settle for mediocrity.
If life is not going the way you want it to, you can change it.
Is it hard? Yes.
Does it hurt sometimes? Absolutely.
But keeping the bigger picture in mind is what matters most. Small goals eventually create the big ones! - Watch me rise
Over the last 11 months, she has no idea how much this lesson will carry her through the years ahead.
A huge shoutout to Shelby Dorminy for being such a big part of this journey. So much of Emma’s growth this season would not have been possible without her guidance, support, and belief in her along the way.
Cheers to Emma and the closing chapter of the first season of becoming the dancer she once thought was impossible 11 months ago.
Nationals, here we come on a scholarship! ❤️
May this “season” be a life lesson forever!
- Forever your mama - Jamie (I’m not crying your crying).