Forgetting our Fears with our Children

When I was 8 years old, I went ice skating for the first time with my dad and a small group of friends in Charlotte. I remember being really excited about the new adventure with my friends, and as soon as I put my skates on, I hit the ice. Literally. With my face.

As I fell I grimaced and closed my eyes. I felt my face hit the ice, but I didn't feel pain-probably thanks to the coldness of the ice. Once I opened my eyes I saw blood across the ice near my head. Once again I was hit, but this time with a realization - it was my blood.

I don't remember pain at all, but I do remember immediately standing back up, grabbing my face and skating to my dad, who was running toward me. Once he moved my hand it was obvious I lost a nice chunk of my chin on the skating rink floor.

I was taken into surgery and recieved seven stitches. The managers of the ice skating rink gave my dad handfuls upon handfuls of free skating passes and I was anxious to heal so I could "get back up and try it again" - an attitude my Papa engrained in me.

I have ice skated several times since then and I have no fear of falling again. But I now fear for my son.

Our family recently recieved complimentary ice skating passes (a perk to having my brother's birthday party at the Pavilion) and we decided to use them a couple of weekends ago. This meant our 4-year-old, Connor, would be ice skating for the first time.

My dad was extremely concerned, which wound up causing me to become concerned as well. Was Connor too young? What if he got hurt like me - he doesn't even know what stitches are? Dozens of questions swirled in my head. However, I am a firm believer in children being exposed to new adventures and experiences to help shape them into who they will grow to become. So it was settled...we'd let him try it out.

I must say that I was very impressed with the experience we had at the Pavilion. For starters, I thought the staff was friendly, informative and helpful. I also very much liked that they offered walkers for children (and adults) to help them skate. Connor loved using this and it calmed my nerves about the possiblilty of him falling.

Connor enjoyed my husband and I taking turns pushing the walker behind him, that way he could just hang on and skate, without ever moving his feet. My only complaint would be the blisters my boots gave me, but that is nothing anyone could help. And I'd gladly take the blisters again to be able to have the quality time I experienced with my family.

Our experience at the Pavilion was great, and I am so glad that we took Connor. As parents, it is easy to hold on to our childhood fears and pass them on to our children. However, we need to remember that our children will come up with their own fears all on their own. Holding Connor back from ice skating would have made me less nervous for him, but it also would have eventually made him less confident - he already wants to get back in the rink!