Yesterday was spent around a table with warm drinks playing boardgames, and today was something quite different. With my wife going back to work after the holiday break ending, and me being largely unemployed - Smallsteps and I ventured out onto the ice for a skate. Though, admittedly, I wasn't skating this time, because I suck and I am worried about falling and doing more damage to my shoulder, which is still not that great after tumbling down the stairs a few weeks back.
Considering Smallsteps is Finnish, she is not a very good skater. It is not her fault though, it is that of her ridiculous parents. With one who can't skate but has a pretty good excuse of growing up in the tropics, and the other who keeps making excuses and I am yet to see skate after about thirteen years together. That length of time means snow on the ground for about half that time.
I had a deal with a friend of mine to teach my kids winter sports, as he was a professional hockey player and all-round athlete, but he moved back to the sticks of Sweden from whence he came with his Family (Finnish wife - lots of hockey competition there). So, that plan fell through, much to the detriment of our child.
She has fun though.
And really, she isn't that bad, but in comparison to many of the "ice kids" out there, she is behind. Compared to the average child here these days who spends their time on a phone, she is probably doing okay. But comparing physicality to the sedentary, is not really useful. She was also on "new" (for her) skates that were a bit different to her previous, and that definitely had an impact at the start of the session. After about half an hour, she was comfortable enough and falling far less.
It was about -10C (14F), so it was pretty warm out there, though as I wasn't skating and wearing less wintery clothes, I put my hands in my pockets. This skating area is nice though, as it is newly and purpose built, so even when the weather warms up and goes above zero, it stays cold for longer and is skatable for more of the year. Plus, it is not far from our home, so we will go more over the coming days.
And, despite parents lacking the skills, we have convinced some ringers to come teach Smallsteps some skills and give her more practice. The mother of one of her friends is an ex-figure skater, and my niece's mother, whom she spends time with occasionally an is also an ex-hockey player from back in the day. With a little guidance, I think she will get the hang of it and the confidence to push a bit more. Though, she definitely isn't afraid of falling!
(Hitting the ice at 20kg is very different than hitting it at 100kg)
We were out there for about an hour and we had planned to have a daddy-daughter coffee date afterward, but Smallsteps ended up going trampolining with the friend of the family, which was a gift she got for her birthday a few months ago. So, tomorrow we have planned to hit the ice again in the morning and then in the afternoon, use her Christmas voucher from the grandparents to a climbing centre for a couple hours.
Smallsteps will go back to school next week, so it is nice to be able to spend some time with her and actually do some stuff, before she goes back, and I have to start getting serious about my lack of work. I am in "no rush" but if I stay in no rush for too long, it will end up being a problem.
List your top skill:
Procrastination.
Let's put it on ice for now.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Cute Smallsteps, my son Matthew also learned his balance quickly, first on ice skates on the ice rink and then in the field park on snow skis. I'll show you a video of that moment…
He is doing really well - better than me by far!
So, how is it to be unemployment after a long time? I think I would have some hobbies like doing house chores and repairs :) However, one of my friend has been in the same situation for a while and he says he has got used to stay at home and sleep much more.
So far, sleeping the same as before - not enough. I have been doing things around the house though, but over Christmas, took it pretty easy :)
Looks like it was a really fun time. I haven't been ice skating since I was a little kid. My parents have a back lot that use to flood and freeze over in the winter, that's where my sister and I did our skating. You just had to watch out for clumps of grass sticking up through the ice! :) It's good you have people who can teach her and if she isn't afraid of falling then that is half the battle right there.
"pond hockey" :D
I am hoping that she gets into it more, and perhaps cross-country skiing also, as it is a good way to get some fresh air - so I hear. :)
I've only been cross country skiing once. I fell a lot! Probably more than I did ice skating!
Smallsteps looks quite pleased with herself lol. A few more sessions on the ice and she'll be performing toe loops like a seasoned skater.
That would be great if she could - but I think she is going to be more like me -and remember, I fell down the stairs.
lol Well lets just hope she's not exactly like you :D
Secret talent surely.
Oh boy! I wish our skiing mountains stayed that cold. It rained two days after we left Christmas weekend.
I've had to navigate this delicate balance in my life quite a few times already. The right thing will come along when it is time. New Splinterlands series from Taraz: "Bad Beat of the Day"
Very secret! - Like her Swedish ;)
Rain on the snow sucks ass.
This might be a thing! Perhaps Matt will take notice and de-blacklist my account!
Best to put the evidence on the blockchain. Start a whole community for Hive bad beat stories! Very sad about the rain on the snow washing out a couple good storms that hit in mid December. Sad for the all the people who came through for the Goochmas.
It is great that you spend time with your daughter, encourage her to do sports and gain skills. Is it something she likes? Actually, playing ice hockey must be in her genes. In a country where most of the year is covered in snow, everyone should be able to play ice hockey as they were born.
You can get better results if she does this sport with her friends.
Yeah, she loves it. She asks to go. We don't actually make her do any activities she doesn't like - unless it is things that she has to do, like clean her room :)
Procrastination is definitely my top skill as well :)
Sounds like Smallsteps is getting lots of energy out in those physical events :)
We should create a community for us.
I will do it tomorrow!
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That would be either your sister or your sister in law?🤔
I take it you didn't do a lot of inline skating either then, the motion is pretty much the same, you just have to be more precise on ice because it's more slippery XP
I feel like procrastination is a top skill for most people XD I have tried to mitigate mine somewhat by procrastinating on other things that also need to be done and may have been procrastinated themselves at some stage so at least something that needs doing is getting done even if it's not the thing that I'm supposed to be doing x_x
Yay for nice days before going back to work :D
Waoo! Good girl she's enjoying it already is always good to spend time with them you will even find out more things they haven't told you when you make them happy like this you will marvel at things they begin to say