The Lives of Hockey and Figure Skating Parents really aren’t that different
by Catherine Collins of Ultimate Edges of Excellence
It all starts by taking your 3 year old to the rink for “learn to skate” lessons as something to fill an hour of their week and give them an outlet for their energy. They come home from class and continue to skate around the house, wearing their helmet, gloves and maybe a super-hero or princess costume from the dress up box, constantly asking every day there after “ Do I go to skating today?”
Next thing you know, you’re complaining about the hours spent driving back and forth to the rink, with the 6 a.m., OMG.. give me coffee, early morning or the later-than-you like on a school night, time sitting and waiting in the cold arena for practice to end when you have a million other places to be, and please, don’t even get me started on the money- registrations, skates, extra practice ice, skates, extra lessons, skates, tournaments/competitions, skates, equipment/costumes, skates, fund raisers, skates. Did I mention skates?
You fret and worry that a “normal childhood is passing them by. They are not on the school basketball team, not on the volleyball team, not on the cheerleading squad. They are very rarely at the dinner table because they are at the rink for some sort of practice almost every night. Family vacations are planned around summer tournaments or competitions. Which usually are the family vacations. Just saying!
But before you know it, they have played their last game, skated their last competition, hung up the last pair of skates and it is all over too soon. When it is all over and they have left the rink for the last time, will you remember the hours, the money, and the worry of the physical toll?
My guess is “NO”
You will remember the gifts that their sport has given them: the ability to prioritize, to multi-task, to handle pressure and last minute changes, a strong, flexible body,and an appreciation for hard work. You will be grateful you are sending your child out into the world with a strong work ethic and a long attention span. You will have a great sense of pride and peace knowing your child is part of a strong circle of young adults equally capable of lifting one another up when life’s little speed bumps get tough, as they are celebrating each other’s accomplishments, triumphs and victories.
In the end, pat yourself on the back, all because taking them to that first “learn to skate” class 17 years ago was one of the best parenting decision you made.
i am a former coach from the 60,70,&80. I now have two granddaughters very involved, It’s the greatest sport . My daughter was also a coach. We had students that passed gold figures and free. That was the days of patch. (Also gold dances). To see this generation doing double and triple jumps so young is wonderful. (Not all that time on figures) although we loved the figures as well .We have grandsons in hockey and our boys all played hockey also a. Great way to keep grandparents involved.
your forgetting that very special class of parent, the net minders parent. Same times, even greater expense (have you seen the price of goalie gear, even more expensive skates and often two pairs required as they also require “normal” skates as well) and there are less places on the team. After all that if your son is chosen for a team you often travel to then sit and watch your son/daughter sitting on their backside for the game if they are the backup rather than the chosen one.
You hit the nail on the head! I have a son and daughter, both started skating 18 years ago. Reading this article was like reading a story of our life. Both my children grew up on the ice in San Antonio Texas. He is in college at UTICA as a junior playing college hockey. She just finished a 2 year tour with Disney on Ice premiering as “Ariel”, “Belle”, “Tweetle Dee”, and numerous other characters traveling all over the world! Thank you for putting this in words that I have lived! Nanette Miglio