On Firm Ice

It's almost a requirement of citizenship, on par with use of the word "eh" and an understanding, if not appreciation, of poutine. It's not hockey, although that is often the outcome of this near mandatory rite of Canadian passage. I'm talking about the age old Canadian tradition of sliding across slick surfaces with knives strapped to your feet.

Ice skating is a big part of the Canadian identity, and it's the rare child who hasn't spent some time at the rink. I was a rare child; I took exactly one turn around the ice during my childhood. For the longest time, a teeny pair of skates hung in my dad's workshop, small enough that any firm recollection of my wearing them has long been obscured by the mists of memory. All that remains is the impression that this activity is not something I enjoy. It's a very strong impression, however; one that kept me off the ice until I was forced to learn how to skate as I taught a group of fifth graders the same skilled I had eschewed throughout my childhood. See what I mean? One way or another, if you live in Canada, you're getting on the ice.

Be that as it may, if left up to me, Diva Girl's status as a truly Canadian kid would most likely be in jeopardy. Sure, I can skate now (barely), but I can think of few things I'd rather do than hang around a skating rink, lacing, tying, unlacing, waiting, freezing my butt off as my child learns to stumble across the ice. Fortunately, however, it is not left up to me; Uncle Ed has taken on this aspect of my daughter's national identity, buying her skates--Sale & Pelletier models that would make any little girl's heart thrill with dreams of Olympic gold--and taking her to lessons every Saturday morning for the last 12 weeks.

Twelve weeks of tying skates, adjusting helmets, and standing by the boards in the freezing cold arena, watching Diva Girl slowly go from sliding across the ice on her butt to gliding across it on one foot. And he's not even really her uncle. He's my parents neighbour, a sort of shirttail relation who has been a part of The Ladies' lives since they were born. He's also part of the reason why I'm not too concerned by the lack of a dad around here.

My daughters may not have a "father figure," but they do have several strong male role models, including their grandfather, my four older brothers, and of course, Ed. These are the men who have been there for The Ladies throughout their lives. The men who do dadthings like take them up on scary ferris wheels, let them help with the power tools, toss them in the air and hang them upside down until they dissolve into a mass of giggles, and do stuff like stand around hockey arenas on Saturday mornings so that my girls can learn how to skate.

These are the men who teach my daughters what real men are like. They are the men who show them that men don't always leave. That often they stick around to change diapers, kiss boo boos, and give cuddles. They teach them funny faces, ridiculous songs, knock knock jokes, and that they have value in the world. That they are important, interesting women who deserve to be listened to. That they are funny, and fun, and worthy of love and attention. These are the men who will help my daughters form their sense of themselves, and I'm very grateful to have them in our lives.

I'm also pretty proud of my Diva Girl, who passed her level 2 skating and is now a pink elephant!

Comments

Your daughter is a...pink elephant?

I think I can guess how you've been spending your time, while Sabrina learns to skate. Lay off the juice, eh?

Way to go Diva Girl, and way to go all the honourary uncles.

Hooray for Pink Elephant girl and Uncle Ed!

The kids have to wear helmets when learning to ice skate these days? I guess it makes sense, if they have to do it for bike riding. I wonder when we're going to see the national competitors wear helmets with their sparkly costumes. ;)

I've gotten to see Sale & Pelletier skate before and they are so terrific!

Way to go, Diva Girl! And Uncle Ed! I'm with you on the whole skating thing--give me a nice, heated roller rink any day.

Way to go, Diva Girl and of course, my hubby Ed