Jacob's feet were a blur! What a guy.
Joseph knows how to lead! What another guy. He is learning justified self-esteem! Isaac says that its the obscure, little known french dance called Y`ankherarmoff.
Why do we attend Balls? Since we began on this path of Leadership training with our children, we have come to understand many different environments which are important in training leaders. Attending a formal black or white tie event will help us and our children be familiar with the formal world. Great leaders like Churchill, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Adams did not fit into the mold, but they were familiar with the mold, knew its language, and knew how to effectively not fit in. A Statesman in formal events is one who is "calm, sure, confident, not easily swayed but always openly optimistic, interested in others more than self". By attending these formal events yearly, we are learning to be calm, sure, and confident (not self-conscious or self-absorbed) so we can be "comfortable following spiritual promptings that are needed in formal settings where many important decisions are made".
This year mom learned how to be more confident in such settings. Joseph was sure of himself and was adding to his confidence. Jacob was learning to not miss opportunities (b/c he has previously regretted not talking to certain friends) in addition to calm, assured, and confident. (to learn more about why we attend formal balls, see "Core and Love of Learning: A Recipe for Success")
Here are some pictures from previous Family/Formal Balls.
October 2005
January 2006
