Faculty of Arts & Science

Creative Writing

Zoe Oliveira

I Hope You Dance

A creative non-fiction piece included in "Mothering Outside the Lines: Tales of Boundary Busting Mamas", a collection edited by BettyAnn Martin and Michelann Parr that was published by Demeter Press.

“Being able to look back on my childhood with a fondness is not something I take for granted, and I am no stranger to the role my mother played in making that possible. Her decision to parent differently, and the lived consequences of that choice, has transformed every house we have ever lived in, and made it a home. The kitchen, for example, is for spontaneous dancing as much as cooking. Belting songs at the top of our lungs is met with my Mom’s clapping, and a joyous shout of "that sounded so good", regardless of where she may be in the house. The dining room doubles as an art studio, no matter how much paint I’ve spilt on tablecloths, and though none of this may seem ground-breaking, I’d argue that it is. Through the wonders of creative prose and memoir, I’d be honoured to share the beliefs and characteristics through which my Mother fostered a home of endless love and support, not just for her children, but for all whowalked through the door. She has been the unofficial mother to musical casts, soccer teammates, and any stray animal that so much as looked like it was in need. Though these feats may sound typical of a Mom’s everyday job, it is the means through which she did it, with an unconventional generosity and grace, that deserve recognition. My siblings, myself, (and the plethora of friends who fondly call my Mother by her first name) are the living outcome of her decision, however unofficial or unplanned, to mother differently. It did not take big actions to colour outside the lines; small choices, made every single day, built to something bigger and better than she ever could have imagined. As her daughter, I’m proud. As a witness, I’m honoured to see what she did, and as an aspiring future mother, I have learnt. But as a writer, I have the tools necessary to tell her deserving story, and if we’re really being honest, most of that probably came from her too.”