Roller Skates & Life Lessons

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Yesterday I went roller skating for the first time in many, many years. A good friend of mine was in town with her kids and we wanted something fun that all the kids could do. And it had to be indoors, it is freezing here. So we went. It was all of the little kids very first time skating. I guess I didn't really think about actually having to get out there on the rink until we were all laced up and ready to go...then I realized I had to risk making a fool of myself and more importantly, the possibility of breaking my neck, while helping two kids try and skate. I'm pretty sure that if my kids were a little older and knew better they would have been embarrassed of me, at least in the beginning anyway.


I loved roller skating when I was younger, we used to skate all over the neighborhood, around our court, up and down the street. We used brooms when we first started out,  for balance. I remember how much I loved that feeling of freedom. Yesterday was fun. We did it...and all lived to tell the story. The kids LOVED it. It was a day of firsts. Not only did my kids skate for the first time I heard a Justin Bieber song all the way through for the very first time. hahhaha. Such excitement. It was fun to see that kids still love to skate, they still played the 4-corners game and I forgot how much I loved those colored lights, how they reflected on the rink and how I used to love to run over them.

We all did much better than I thought we would. Wyatt never needed to hang onto me, Charlotte let me help her the first couple of rounds and then she was off skating by herself. She did not want me anywhere near her for fear I would hold her hand. She wanted to do it all by herself. She's four now, ya know. So I tried to push the image of her cracking her head open on the rink out of my mind and let her go. And she went. They both did. Proud of themselves and enjoying their freedom...what a great feeling.




This year one of the things I am really trying to focus on is trying new things and challenging myself. Doing things I may not want to do but should do, need to do or that I am a little scared to do. I'm not saying that roller skating was one of those things for me yesterday but I am thinking more of my little guy that seemed a little uncertain about going. He had a lot of questions for me; did they have helmets? knee pads? elbow pads? what if he fell? what if he couldn't do it? would Charlotte be able to skate? would I?  would they have skates in his size?  That's my boy, sometimes a little nervous about the unknown, kind of like his mama.
He said he was nervous because he didn't know what to expect but he thought it would be okay.  I assured him it would,  we would all be able to skate and it was going to be fun. He seemed fine with that answer. It was a good little reminder to me of facing little fears, letting go (a little), encouraging others (as well as myself), doing something when that you're not entirely comfortable with/sure of and celebrating little victories. Yesterday was a good day.



I hope you all are having a good week. Tomorrow is Friday, the weekend is almost here! 
We have three more days of freedom until school starts back up. And yes, I am counting. 

12 comments:

  1. This brings back memories. I'd love to have go. Glad you all had fun, it looks it! x

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  2. Ahh roller skating is so fun! Tricky, sometimes, too!!
    Gosh. What cute pictures:)

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  3. i love your ideas on challenging your fears and in doing that encouraging your kids to do the same....good mama.

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  4. What fun!! We went bowling with our 2 & 4 year old this week. They loved it! Kids are so fantastic at keeping you searching for new experiences for them to enjoy, learn from and grow.

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  5. I recently went ice skating for the first time in I don't know how long. It was fun. My little kiddos take about 3 or 4 glides to my one glide. No wonder they were sweating by the time we were done! Enjoy your last few days off.

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  6. What an incredible day! :) I loved roller skating and ice skating when I was younger...
    Such good life lessons!

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  7. I love roller skating! The roller rink was kind of our tween hang out. I've taken my girls before, but maybe this is a good year to take my little man along. :)

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  8. Man, I used to LOVE Skate World when I was a kid. That was what we wanted to do every weekend. But you could not get me in a pair of skates now. My knees hurt just thinking about it! You are a brave woman!

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  9. ahhh, i miss roller skating. i loved it when i was little, too. i think it's awesome that your challenging yourself in this way. what a fun new adventure for yourself, and your family, in the new year!!

    happy friday!

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  10. Oh my gosh, I love roller skating! I haven't been in years...maybe I should go sometime soon. Thanks for the inspiration :)

    Oh, and I gave you an award on my blog, if you're interested. I know you probably get lots of those...

    Thanks!

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  11. From what I remember, rollerskating was fun! I was never very good; I couldn't skate backwards and such. But I enjoyed it once I got going. The Girl really wants some skates. I'm thinking that might be a good idea.

    Plus, I have a secret desire to do roller derby. Always have.

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  12. I am 11 and I have never roller skated before in my life but I really would love to. Tomorrow my dad and I are going to some guys house to see if they have any roller skates in my size and budget. I'm really excited! :D.
    My two aunties also do roller derby.

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