Maria Villegas said her son, Fabian Diaz Villegas, had been looking forward to a Mommy and Son Glow Dance Party in River Grove since he heard about it while at a breakfast with the Easter Bunny event.
“He was very excited,” she said. “It’s something different from what we usually do, and my son and I can bond.”
The glow dance party took place April 20 at the River Grove Recreation Center. River Grove recreation director Laura Jardine said 25 mothers and 25 sons attended the event. She said youth government students chose the glow theme.
There was glow-in-the-dark dancing, and Clavio’s Cafe provided food. Crafts, pool, face painting and games were available for both mothers and sons. Michael Jardine served as the DJ. For dessert, there was a brownie sundae bar.
“We have glow sticks, a light show and a photo backdrop area with props for fun pictures,” Jardine said.
Villegas said her son, who turns 9 years old in August, plans on having a glow-in-the-dark birthday party. She said his excitement for his birthday led him to the dance party to get ideas.
Diaz Villegas said he had not been able to stop thinking about the dance party in the days leading up to the dance.
Natalie Georgakilas brought her 5-year-old son, Jayden Perez, because she felt they needed to spend more quality time together. She recently had a baby, so she felt it was important to do something special just with him.
“I like being with my mom,” Jayden said. “She looks pretty.”
Iris Gonzalez brought her nephew, Dante, to the dance. She said it is a perfect time for the two of them to bond, and she wants to develop a deeper relationship with him.
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“I believe it takes a village to raise a child, so building community rapport with people Dante may or may not know is important,” she said. “When we bond with the community and different families, it lasts a lifetime.”
Jardine said the village of River Grove has several springtime events coming up including an Arbor Day ceremony at 10 a.m. April 27 at Rhodes School, and the Village Planting Day at 9 a.m. May 19 at village hall.
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.