Learning to roll with the changes

By Amanda

Almost exactly two years ago I first taught my older daughter to roller skate; I wrote about the experience on DotMoms because it brought back vivid childhood memories of when I first learned to skate. My oldest daughter is now 7 years old and while she hasn't yet completely mastered the skill, she is much more confident about gliding around the rink without my help.

Recently, I had the joy of taking my almost 4-year-old for her first spin around the rink. I assumed the experience would be similar to my first experience with my other daughter. I imagined several painful hours of me skating backwards, hunched over, holding her unsteady hands as we made our way tediously around. But remarkably, just as all children's personalities are different, so too are their abilities and their tendencies to fear, or embrace, something new.

After just one time around holding hands my little one stated, "Enough Mommy, I'm ready to do it myself." For the next several hours she shuffled by my side with a cheshire cat grin on her face. She even worked up enough speed at one point to send a little breeze through her wispy, blond bob. Several times we passed my 7-year-old, who was cautiously staying close to the side, albeit without holding on.

Clearly, my baby was going to fall, it was her first time. I dreaded the thought of it. She did fall, but miraculously when it happened she got right back up without help from me and kept going. There was no crying. Her sister, on the other hand, never falls because she never goes fast enough or does any fancy footwork that would trip her up.

I marveled at their differences that day as I pictured their personalities taking shape with every turn around the rink -- the cautious one and the risk-taker. The truth is that I love them equally, but enjoy both of them in different ways. I identify with the cautious one who works hard and colors in between the lines, and I envy the risk taker who isn't afraid to fall.    

Amanda lives in North Carolina with her husband and two daughters.   

Comments

[Lisa Mills]

It's amazing how different, yet special, children can be. I have twins who are exact opposites. But I love their differences.

[almost vegetarian]

I love how resilient children are. Where did we lose that? Oh - and how do we get it back? Funny, though, I never lost my taste for chocolate! Cheers.