Ice Skating Lesson 8

Lil Shauna couldn't wake up on Saturday morning bcos the kids had a late night. Instead, Lil Isaac didn't sleep in and caught us while we were trying to get out of the house. Though no tears, there were plenty of "I also want to go ice skating" pleads. I am not prepared to watch over 2 kids on the ice and had to coax him to stay home. We then quickly sneaked out of the house. Before we left, he said that he wanted to learn ice skating too. Scary.

Lil Isaac called me on my mobile twice in the span of 20 mins. Each time, he repeated his request to ice skate too. Zzzzz. To pacify him, I promised to check out the lesson schedule but told him that he would only be able to take on ice skating lessons after he had completed his gym classes. He had been on at least 3 terms of expensive gym classes. I had thoughts to cease them and find him something else. Maybe ice skating is the solution? Luckily he only called 2x and was probably well entertained by the ipad.

Lil Shauna and I had Mac bfast before class. We were early and she worked on her homework while I on mine.

We went up to the rink early to realise that it was the national competition today and the rink would be closed at 2.45pm today. There was no group classes were already many skaters practicing their stuff when we arrived - all the lunges, twists, turns. Wow!

We went down to the ice and practice the usual stuff. I had seen Lil Shauna in better forms on other day but at least she managed her Mohawk. She took a rest right before the lesson and was happily playing in the rink until I yelled for her. Zzzz. By the time she rushed over to her lesson, she has forgotten all the hands up, head up nag for the past hours. Aiyoh!

The class went OK. She learnt how to skate forward after some backward strokes. Many times, I realised that it is more so Lil Shauna not understanding what Teacher Raymond wanted her to do than her inability to do it. And I had this urge to rush into the rink and tell her in a way that she understands. Other times, she just needed to practice the stroke like 300x more. This is when I come in to the picture. Teacher Raymond probably saw us practising on some occasions. After class, he told Lil Shauna that I am a good tuition coach. Haha. I was quite proud actually. The "tuition" definitely benefitted her. As compared to her friends that had started the private classes at the same time, she's probably a little faster. Seriously, it is tough to rely on a kid to self practice.

I also realised that Lil Shauna is "not there yet" in her strokes. It is constantly like the leg is not lifted high enough here and the body needs a little bit more leaning in there. I don't know how to resolve that. I see that the older skaters understood the need for precision and take effort to tuck that tummy and raise the butt, etc. As for the little girl, she is already very pleased with herself when she manages to roughly execute the move. Maybe she just needed a lot more practice? She came back after class and told me that teacher Raymond said that her spiral is not high enuff and her lunge not low enuff. OK lor, then how? Anyway, we left for lunch and headed to phonics class.

I pop back to the rink to watch the skaters warm up before the competition.

Then I saw this very little boy partaking in the competition.  He is probably about Lil Isaac's age but is so good.

He could do spiral and jumps and is so steady. His strokes were precise despite being so young. I wonder how old was he when he started learning skating.

Just then, Lil Isaac and Daddy Lim joined me and they were equally amazed. Lil Isaac started his pleads to learn ice skating NOW. The next core 1 lesson starts on 2 May. Let me think harder about it. Can I cope with 2 kids on the rink? Lil Shauna said that I can't bcos I have to help her practice. Zzzzz. Win already. Alternatively, we will wait for the next run, after Lil Isaac completes his gym class. He would be a little older then, right? The idea of having both of them doing the same class at almost the same time is very appealing too.

Mummy Lim