By: LiSA ANNE ABREGO, perimeter school mom of two girls

Years ago, we chose Perimeter School for our family for many reasons, but as I look back a little, one thing that always stands out in our hearts each year is the Father Daughter Dance.

Perimeter School is extremely purposeful in helping us as parents create intentional moments to build our relationships as a family, as well as a covenant community. I absolutely love that we are part of a school that chooses to have this type of special event.

Each year, when the dance theme is determined, there is also a Bible verse selected that emphasizes the theme and points our girls to our Heavenly Father. This year’s verse declares His love and faithfulness for us, the same thing we want our daughters to know about their earthly daddies.

This Event is special

This event is special, not only because of the time shared between daddies and daughters, but also because fathers are sharing the same goal with other fathers and sweet little friends are having a night of fun together. 

This particular event is one of the sweetest and most intentional times a father can spend with his daughter(s). Daughters look up to their daddies as their heroes, and this event gives daddies the chance to show their daughters how they should be treated.

They can model the unconditional love, worth, and value that their girls should look for in their future spouses. These moments are such important parts of how a father should be raising and guiding his girls.  

My husband especially enjoys adding to the night by also taking our daughters out to dinner before the dance. During their time together, he tries to model how a man should act toward his daughters by showing them love and respect and treating the occasion as special and important.

He fondly remembers a moment when he was walking into dinner with our oldest daughter before her first Father Daughter Dance, holding hands as she sweetly looked up at him, making him feel like her biggest hero. It’s a special memory that they both will share for the rest of their lives.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

I have been volunteering as a special events representative as a parent responsibility since our oldest daughter was in kindergarten. Each year since then, I have always chosen to serve on the Father Daughter Dance committee. This will be my fifth year serving, and our youngest’s third year attending. My girls have always felt that this is a bit of a family affair, and I love that!

I have always loved being able to support this event by being involved in any way needed … the planning committee, helping with decor, shopping, set-up, serving during the event itself, or clean-up afterwards. Anyone who has been able to serve at the dance has come to realize that it allows us some sweet sneak peeks into this beautiful night!

During the dance, there are many special moments, but the most meaningful for me is when the dads take time praying over their daughters ... there is nothing more important than going to the throne and interceding on behalf of our children and modeling our need for our Savior to our children.

The Father Daughter Dance also allows us mommies to be a part of this event with our daughters. Even if it’s in a different way than with their daddies, it is still so very special. I adore picking out their dresses, corsages, getting my girls ready for the event, and taking pictures. More importantly, I love seeing them excited for their special night with their daddy.

Precious memories

Another precious memory for me will always be the year our first daughter and sweet niece were able to attend the dance together. Our daughter was in kindergarten and our niece was about to graduate from Perimeter School. They didn’t have but one year together during their time at Perimeter School, but special times like this dance together gave these cousins shared memories they will always cherish.

During the dance, there is always attention given to make the graduating eighth graders feel extra special. I am grateful I was serving and able to be there to see those special moments for my niece.

There are many legacies at Perimeter School, and it brings another layer to how special these moments can be when they are shared together.

My brother-in-law still carries on Perimeter School’s Father Daughter Dance tradition during each of my niece’s high school years by having a daddy/daughter night with dinner and dancing. What a special tradition that has been created for their family, and I know it has been the same for many others!

Our prayer is that when the days of having our sweet children in our home and in our care are over, these will be some of the most cherished times … these will be some of the unforgettable moments that bind a daddy and daughter together, always.

Those of us who serve are honored to play a small part.   

The much-anticipated Father Daughter Dance will be held on Friday, February 7, 2020 from 7:00-9:00 PM. It will be a beautiful night of fun, dancing, and dessert for Perimeter School girls and their fathers with a backdrop of glittery lights and twinkling stars! To register, visit Family Portal (formerly ParentsWeb) > School > Web Forms by Friday, January 31. Click here for more information.