If I can't be on the ice, at least I can get my exercise skate running!
Despite many misgivings about how the trip would turn out, we took all 3 of the kids skating the other day, and it was a success! We had not taken anyone skating in years...probably about 3 years, to be exact. It was such a brutal process when Jim had aspirations of hockey for Liam, and Liam was just not into the skating part. Natalie was too young the last time, and just screamed for Mommy (and Jim is the only real skater in the family - I am more of a threat to the kids on the ice than a help). This time, Liam tentatively held onto the side for a lap or two (but it was significant that he went out completely on his own and plugged away at it without giving up), and then Jim switched him from hockey to figure skates and it helped tremendously. By the end, he had let go of the side and could go around on his own. After about 5 minutes, Natalie didn't want to hold our hands or the side, and she did a great job of getting around on her own as well. More of a walk than a glide, but it was VERY exciting that she didn't cry or whine, even when she fell. Woo-hoo!! Both of them have asked when we can go again. Maybe they are half Canadian after all!
Even I managed to get around the rink a few times, although I know I look like I'm doing a crab walk. I think I keep my left leg totally still and I just push off a bit with my right leg like I'm rowing a boat or something. Totally elegant and graceful, you can imagine. But I didn't fall. And more importantly, I didn't drag any of the kids down with me.
Owen...well, let's just say that his skating ambitions might exceed his physical ability right now. He seemed to want to run (go figure) and so he had a very hard time standing upright. But he didn't cry. And he got a lot of practice running in skates in the waiting area. One teenage boy saw him and told me so very earnestly "That's the next Ovechkin! Really! That is so great! I wish my parents had started me skating that young!" ha ha Funny that he picked Ovechkin...
2 comments:
My husband is envious! He'd love to get Denis out on skates. He's just sure hockey is in his blood!
Yes, I think it is in Owen's blood too. With Liam and Jim doing nothing but baseball all the time, and Natalie doing soccer, and Owen doing gymnastics, if I ask Owen what he wants to play the most he will say "Hockey!!" I think he will be very good at body checking too. :)
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