Note: I wrote this as an email and sent it to a couple friends during the time my computer was down. Chronologically, it was written in about the first week of February…
I took Colin and CJ skiing yesterday. Since I am way too tight to pay for lessons when they cost about $100 each, I resolved to teach them myself. So we went skiing a week ago and then we went again yesterday, with me acting as instructor. The first time was a little rough, trying to teach two at one time, but we managed and it was good enough that they were dying to go again.
Yesterday, I set low goals. I told myself if CJ made it all the way down the mountain one time without falling, and Colin even dared to ski a little ways without me holding onto his harness, it would be a successful day.
CJ made it down without falling on the second run of the day and Colin was skiing completely alone all the way down by himself before lunch. He even made it all the way down a few times without falling.
I don’t think I would have been nearly as successful at teaching them if I wasn’t in such good shape from running. By being in shape, I was able stay on top of the game, keep it positive, and this made it go great.The only problem is now I have to figure out how to factor about one day per week of skiing into my American River 50 Mile Endurance Run training plan!
I figured out a few small “tricks” along the way that seemed to help a lot. If your teaching little kids to ski, let me know and I’ll send you my thoughts.
Back in the day, when I was a young twenty-something with no one but myself to spend money on, I took my vacations in the winter and went skiing somewhere in the world every year. With no idea of what parenthood would be like, I looked forward to skiing with my kids someday. Yesterday, as I stood at the top of the hill and watched them ski all the way down by themselves, I thought that I had arrived.
The plan had come together. It was my best fatherhood day ever.
