I bought Henry a skateboard for $6 at a yard sale a while back.
My only thought was that it would help round out the conglomeration of bikes, scooters, and other wheeled accoutrements in the garage. I figured he would ride it down the driveway on his butt. Push his sister around. You know.
But the very day I brought it home, he rode it down the driveway…on his feet. And he has been riding it around the cul-de-sac and whatnot since.
The thing is, neither Andy or I can so much as stand on a skateboard without breaking a hip. The world of skating is foreign to us. We don’t know the terms, the tricks, or the techniques.
A local skateshop/park in town offers private skateboarding lessons.
We don’t do gymnastics or karate or even T-Ball or soccer. We will probably get into the world of organized sports soon, but for now, Henry isn’t involved in any kind of activity. Being the oldest of four, we try to give him a few extra fun things since he takes the brunt of the “hold on, I’m changing a diaper” or “wait a second, I have to talk to Jilly’s doctor” or “I know she’s messing up your Lego tower, but you have to share”…he’s certainly not neglected, but I think big brothers need some time to do their own thing.
So we headed to the mall, cutting through Macy’s on the way to the skatepark. With a skateboard strapped to his back.
Where he may or may not have knocked over two displays of pajamas because when Mom starts to say “Watch out for that…” a little boy’s instinct is to turn around and say “what?”
Pushing the double stroller, while wearing a baby, and picking up folded flannel pants in the middle of a department store while yelling to your skateboard wielding son to stay away from the Fiestaware…not a hot mess. Not at all.
We waited a couple of minutes for the instructor.
This mix of excitement and fear. Unsure of himself.
He looked so little to me in this moment. At home he was bouncing up and down cheering when I told him of the day’s plans. But in those minutes of waiting he was nervous.
I wanted to scoop him up and squish him. But that might not be cool. So I kept my distance and instead winked at him.
Being a boy mom is complicated.
Andy plays basketball and soccer and ran track in high school. I read books and doodle.
I don’t think I’ve stepped foot in a skateshop before Henry.
The girls watched their big brother.
Encourage your siblings…share in their joy. We try really hard to instill that in our kids.
Babies hung out.
Will you be into this too little O? Or maybe you’ll just want to sit and cuddle with your mom and stay bitty forever?
I’m voting for that one.
We have to work pretty hard with Henry on not getting distracted. Sitting still. I must say “focus!” about 739 times a day. As you can see, this wasn’t so much a problem for Dan.
The fact that Dan himself has four kids 7 and under might be a pretty decent reason he’s such a great teacher to this five year old student.
We aren’t trying to groom the next Tony Hawk or anything (although if he wants to make majillions of dollars and buy his dear old mother a house someday that’s totally fine. As long as he builds some wells too. Obvs.)
We just wanted him to gain some confidence and learn the proper techniques so that he’s safer (in theory).
Or at least breaks a bone doing something cool anyway.
When the session was over, he was a filthy, stinky, sweaty, oh-so-happy mess.
We got him new bearings to replace the rusted out yard sale ones, and he’s already eyeing a new (green) deck. (Look at me using these words like I know what they are!)
He literally fell asleep that night talking about his lesson mid-sentence. The next morning, before he was even done yawning, he asked me how many more days until he gets to go back. We haven’t seen Henry this excited about much of anything. Even going to Disneyland doesn’t hold a candle to this.
So, we also signed him up for skate camp this Saturday too. This time, it’s Dad’s turn to watch his boy.
This parenting gig is so funny. You kinda assume your kids will be into the things you’re into. They are. With some extras too.
We’ll see if this turns into a “thing” or if it’s a phase. Whichever, it’s fun to watch.
Are your kids into something that is foreign to you?
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My youngest wants to join cheer/dance. I’m SO not a cheer mom. But it’s what she wants to do so I guess I’ll have to adapt!
My youngest wanted to take dance lessons which I did as a girl. My mom said she’d pay for them because she bought them for my nieces. Bad mom that I am I never got around to enrolling her. So, Dad’s going to coach her in soccer. They had there first coaches meeting last night. It could get interesting. I won’t be there to help because my older child has medical issues that will keep me at home with him. The last time my husband coached was 15 years ago and it was a girls 12 and under team. He swore never to coach again–at least not girls. Thankfully, the 4 year old team is both boys and girls.
I love your blog! This is my favorite thing about being a parent. My oldest begged and cried to play cello – when she was 6. For 2 years I marveled at how life led me to packing a miniature cello around town. One or both of my girls were girl scouts over the last 5 years. My oldest is a competitive gymnast and rides horses on a western drill team. My youngest is a figure skater (I encouraged hockey for her, but when she asked if they got to wear dresses I resigned) and a rhythmic gymnast (still not sure where she even heard of that one!).
I played soccer through college, would never have been caught dead in a dress or anything remotely resembling ‘girly’. I know not a thing about horses, ice, or ribbons. I used to make fun of the girl scouts who sat around making crafts after school.
I love letting them follow their own passions and getting to learn right alongside them.
Oh my – how your blog brought back memories of my skateboarding son. He started at age 5 and continued until his late teens. Henry sounds like a natural! But just so you know… my son didn’t grow up to be a rich Tony Hawk either so I’m still waiting on that sweet house he could have bought me.
So. So. So fun!!!
Yes. My 9 year old has been doing (and doing tournaments!) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for a few years now. The world of MMA is totally foreign to me. And frankly, if I had it my way, I’d keep it foreign to me. But in sampling a bunch of sports activities to find out where his interest laid, we found he loved it and is really good at it. So we watch. I support. I cheer. And I cringe, cry, and scream when boys are putting choke holds on my baby.
He’s growing up so fast. It’s too bittersweet. Love that kid.
That is the sweetest thing. I love the sibling involvement, too.
Mandie´s last blog post ..Laid Off
He truly is fitting “Little man” now…it is bittersweet cause they grow so fast. :(
“Being a boy mom is complicated.”
Omg this resonated today! :)
Angie´s last blog post ..Response to Tragedy
My 3yr old lil man has been asking for a skateboard! We have been holding out:)
Meg U´s last blog post ..Memory Of
Uncle Duncan was into skateboarding, so that’s where he gets it. Henry is quite the little man now.
My girls tried different sports – Liz was best at gymnastics till she started hurting herself just before she could join the team…wasn’t fun anymore. Danielle stuck with softball and volleyball. Dan coached softball – that was our favorite time and I miss going to her games and being with the parents and the kids. How time flies. Henry looks like he catches on pretty quick. Hope he does well, doesn’t get hurt, etc.
Robbin´s last blog post ..Sunday Hope
My 10 year old is into running. As in 2 miles for a warm up running. He joined his cross country team this year and they placed fifth in state. He is one of the smallest kids out there on the course, just 4’4.” Some of the kids are ready for high school and over six feet tall. It gives me a thrill to see him out there. And I’m a mom who runs only if someone is chasing me. It is so awesome that you are willing to go outside your comfort zone to support your kiddo!
“Encourage your siblings…share in their joy.”. . . LOVE this and we hope to instill the same principle in our kiddos.
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed)´s last blog post ..Dear Clara, (a letter to my girl describing her development and testing over the last three months)
Go, Henry! I could feel the joy and love in your post today.