October 02, 2003
Balance
Last night I learned about myself, in a very simple way but this was new to me. You never know how you will react as a parent until something happens and then well, you..... react! LOL! Yesterday was Zoe's 5th skating lesson and tadada.... she had a TEST! Oh my goodness but she didn't prepare, I thought to myself. Oh dear, she wasn't too impressed by the coach that was grading her test and even made a funny grin while she talked. That's my girl! LOL! Zoe had to skate forward half the width of the ice, then they skated backwards, the coach chuckled as she saw Zoe twist on place. LOL! She did eventually back up while twisting though, Zoe jumped and did two spins, one skating and one walking on ice. Also she had to 'shave' off some ice with her skates. Then, it was over, that's it and just like that the testing was over.
How come there was a test? I sure didn't know about it, my blood pressure went sky high while she was under the watchful eye of the head coach. Then another little skater got to do her test and she proudly got a badge. That's when I realised, HEY! I never saw Zoe get a badge.... oh no, my poor girl will surely notice the high fives the skater next to her is getting and the lovely red badge she just received from her teacher. Oh well, Zoe's already occupied making "waves" with her skates, skating around objects and just doing her thing. The last 5-10minutes of each lesson all the 1st year skaters play a game together, it's fun to see the kids all interacting together, they seem so happy to skate and play around the ice. Oh and once the class was done, what did she proudly show me? Her very first skating badge! Yup, she got it and her teacher came to join us after the lesson to say that Zoe did very well on her testing. They wanted her to get started on the next level right away as she was already mastering the 1st level (they don't want to hold her back in a level that is too easy for her). She explained to us what the badges meant (#1 being for balance) and that there are 7 in this CanSkate program. Zoe will be tested again in december and march. Her current teacher will only stay with her until she reaches the 3rd level, it was comforting for us to know that she will be with Zoe for the whole season. I really like the teacher and I think that's really important too. :) Notice the mittens, done JUST in time for her class.
Yesterday I also noticed something, Zoe is really into dancing, she loves it, doesn't walk anymore she dances from one side of the room to the other, even while crossing the street, she glides, that girl does not walk. She is happy, loves shaking her stuff when music is on. I want to play on that, though I can't dance at all! LOL! She loves doing yoga, so yoga it is. Today after a too long break I will start exercising. She can be my yoga buddy, I know she'll encourage me to do it everyday too. Then again maybe it's time for mommy to learn how to dance. ;)
p/s: Zoe is 4 years old and today she is my hero, I will try to look at life through her eyes for once. She is such a happy child, eyes always beaming with pride, a smile constantly reminding you that life is wonderful and a heart of gold. Here's what she told me just before going to bed last night: "Mommy, thank you for letting me take skating lessons. When I grow up, I want to teach skating to other kids." She's so sweet! :)