The other night, I stretched out on the couch and casually straightened my foot and leg flat against the cushions. My husband looked over and immediately declared, “You can only do that because you used to do ballet.” I laughed and told him I didn’t think that was the reason—I just think women are generally more flexible. He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. It’s one of those small, silly debates we often have. I’m 35, female, and married to a wonderfully stubborn man who never misses a chance to turn a moment into a theory. So now, I’m gathering data.
I’ve always had decent flexibility, even before ballet. Sure, dance helped refine it, but I don’t think it’s the sole reason I can still stretch like this. My husband, however, is convinced that ballet is the magical explanation. He insists that no one without formal training could possibly move like that. I told him to ask any woman who’s ever done yoga, gymnastics, or even just chased toddlers around the house. Flexibility isn’t exclusive to pirouettes. But once he’s locked into a theory, it’s hard to shake him loose.
This isn’t the first time we’ve clashed over body mechanics. He once claimed that my ability to balance on one foot while brushing my teeth was “unnatural.” I told him it’s just practice and core strength. He countered with a YouTube video of someone falling over trying it. I love him dearly, but he’s the kind of man who needs empirical evidence before he’ll admit he’s wrong. So now, I’m on a mission—not just to prove him wrong, but to celebrate the everyday flexibility women often take for granted.
I’ve started asking friends, coworkers, even strangers online: Can you straighten your foot and leg flat like this? The responses have been fascinating. Some say yes, easily. Others say no, not without cramping. A few even sent photos to prove their point. It’s become a lighthearted experiment, and I’m enjoying every bit of it. It’s not about winning—it’s about exploring how our bodies work, and how assumptions shape our understanding of them. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll help my husband see that ballet isn’t the only answer.
What I love most is how this tiny moment sparked a bigger conversation. It reminded me that our bodies carry stories—of movement, memory, and identity. Mine includes ballet, yes, but also years of stretching, walking, lifting, and living. Flexibility isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, relational, and sometimes humorous. My husband may be stubborn, but he’s also curious. And that curiosity keeps our marriage lively. Even if he still insists I owe it all to ballet.
So here I am, 35, flexible, and married to a man who thinks he’s cracked the code. Maybe he’s partly right. Maybe I am a little bendier because of ballet. But I also think women are just built to stretch—physically and metaphorically. And if this little debate leads to more laughter, more learning, and more leg-stretching selfies, then I say bring it on.
