The Thumbs up Dance Routine

Back to the baby, okay?

Some time ago, let’s say six weeks or so, Shawn started the Thumbs Up Program with Reilly. The Thumbs Up Program is a thinly-veiled way for us to teach Reilly positive thinking and general optimism. The way the program is implemented is with some gentle encouragement, directed at Reilly (usually over breakfast). In short, Shawn will ask, “Reilly, are you going to have a thumbs up day today?

Over time, Reilly has gone from giving Shawn a simple thumbs up to now including an elaborate thumbs up and dance routine. This morning she was doing the routine with particular gusto, so I grabbed the video camera and recorded some footage.

Shawn and I tend to email back and forth throughout the day, as opposed to calling each other. Calling is less private and less convenient, so electronic mail is the way we keep in touch. Here is an email chain from this morning, as we reminisced about the thumbs up dance routine:

Me: I keep thinking of Reilly’s little happy thumbs up dance. I just loved it.
Shawn: Wasn’t that the best? I just love that little girl.
Me: I’ve been telling the story and doing the dance to anyone who will listen.
Shawn: I know, me too. I even did the dance for Reilly’s teacher this morning.
Me: Ha! The crazy things that child makes us do!