Pay it Forward - Learning Something New
As I watched the Peanut falling and getting back up again - tears of joy, sadness and admiration filled my eyes. Strangely enough I was the ONLY parent in the stands that day, and the only one shouting cheers of joy and gasping with both hands covering my mouth as she fell. The Peanut has started ice skating lessons.
Last year my father and I started a tradition (albeit late in the year) of taking her skating during the weekly public skate at the local arena. I had attempted to teach her to skate by myself - but quickly learned that perhaps I wasn't the best one to be teaching her, as I spent a fair amount of ice time on my butt. Skating isn't one of my strong suits - to put it nicely. Somehow in my decades away from the rink my experience had grown tenfold. Reality hit me hard - and I had the bruises on my butt to prove it!
Two people struggling to stay upright on the ice is a rather comical sight. The two of us almost peed our pants laughing so hard!! One kind lady (in her shoes) must have felt our pain and brought us out one of those walker things that the little people use when they are learning to skate. Though to be honest, not sure to whom she was giving it to - me or the Peanut?!!? But being the great parent that I am, I graciously gave it to the Peanut.
After that day, I decided it was wise to get reinforcements, and my dad came with us and hand in hand with the Peanut, we skating around the rink every week.
Fast forward to this year, I decided professional help would be beneficial. And although I too could use the lessons - money being pretty tight, and I being the good parent - her lessons won out. The Peanut was nervous that day, and kept saying she couldn't skate by herself. Despite my reassurance that was what lessons were for - for her to learn to skate, she was remarkably shaken that she would spent most her time on the ground.
As I watched her fall and learn to get up on her own, I was struck at how emotional I was. As I perused the empty stands I wondered where all the other parents were?? My Peanut is growing up. Every step further on the ice without falling, was one step closer to her being independent. Every determined attempt to stand back up on the ice BY HERSELF - just made me well up with pride.
Did I mention she was the only one who couldn't skate forward and backwards by herself? Or the only one that spent time on her butt - bless her little soul :) Obviously the least experienced skater out there (maybe the only one with a parent who couldn't skate), but she didn't give up. She kept getting back up and moving one little foot in front of the next. At the end of class that little triumphant Peanut smile and excited little voice that said "Momma that was the bestest I ever did skate!" said it all.
So being as it is Friday, I would like to challenge you to Pay it Forward by teaching something new to someone else. We all are a wealth of knowledge. We all have a lot more than we realize that we can impart to others. I am asking you to do just that. And you will be amazed at the gratitude you will receive and the pride you will feel as well as to the one whom you have shared your gift.
Have a great weekend....and tell me all about your teaching/learning adventures...
Last year my father and I started a tradition (albeit late in the year) of taking her skating during the weekly public skate at the local arena. I had attempted to teach her to skate by myself - but quickly learned that perhaps I wasn't the best one to be teaching her, as I spent a fair amount of ice time on my butt. Skating isn't one of my strong suits - to put it nicely. Somehow in my decades away from the rink my experience had grown tenfold. Reality hit me hard - and I had the bruises on my butt to prove it!
Two people struggling to stay upright on the ice is a rather comical sight. The two of us almost peed our pants laughing so hard!! One kind lady (in her shoes) must have felt our pain and brought us out one of those walker things that the little people use when they are learning to skate. Though to be honest, not sure to whom she was giving it to - me or the Peanut?!!? But being the great parent that I am, I graciously gave it to the Peanut.
After that day, I decided it was wise to get reinforcements, and my dad came with us and hand in hand with the Peanut, we skating around the rink every week.
Fast forward to this year, I decided professional help would be beneficial. And although I too could use the lessons - money being pretty tight, and I being the good parent - her lessons won out. The Peanut was nervous that day, and kept saying she couldn't skate by herself. Despite my reassurance that was what lessons were for - for her to learn to skate, she was remarkably shaken that she would spent most her time on the ground.
As I watched her fall and learn to get up on her own, I was struck at how emotional I was. As I perused the empty stands I wondered where all the other parents were?? My Peanut is growing up. Every step further on the ice without falling, was one step closer to her being independent. Every determined attempt to stand back up on the ice BY HERSELF - just made me well up with pride.
Did I mention she was the only one who couldn't skate forward and backwards by herself? Or the only one that spent time on her butt - bless her little soul :) Obviously the least experienced skater out there (maybe the only one with a parent who couldn't skate), but she didn't give up. She kept getting back up and moving one little foot in front of the next. At the end of class that little triumphant Peanut smile and excited little voice that said "Momma that was the bestest I ever did skate!" said it all.
So being as it is Friday, I would like to challenge you to Pay it Forward by teaching something new to someone else. We all are a wealth of knowledge. We all have a lot more than we realize that we can impart to others. I am asking you to do just that. And you will be amazed at the gratitude you will receive and the pride you will feel as well as to the one whom you have shared your gift.
Have a great weekend....and tell me all about your teaching/learning adventures...
Comments
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
So my teaching forward is something that happened a few weekends. I encountered my elderly neighbor outside and he started telling me he was sick but no one knew what was wrong. I could tell he was stressed and anxious. We talked for quite some time, and I think that it did him a lot of good to talk to me - an impartial observant. He told me how frustrated he was, and how anxious he was - that he was depressed etc. All I could do was listen and share my thoughts - I was able to relate to a degree. I think that I helped him that day, which makes me happy :-)