Show & Tell: Skating

A asked for skates for Christmas, but due to everyone thinking someone else was getting them, she didn't end up with a pair. She hasn't mentioned much about them, but if she sees someone on a skateboard she'll say something about not having any skates "to do dat".

We had 30 minutes in between NYEBoy and K getting off school one day last week, so I took K by an outlet thrift store. She'd never been before. I told her everything was in bins and you just had to dig to find the treasures. I kind of just skimmed the outer shelves when I came across a barbie skate.



I threw it in the cart and kept digging to find the other one. A was busy playing with some doll, so she was oblivious. And then, I found it. I grabbed the other skate out of the cart and I told A to look. Her eyes got as wide as saucers and shouted "ARE DES FOR SALE? ARE DEY REALLY FOR SALE? CAN I HAB DEM? OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE?" No dramatizing there, the kid, as far as she was concerned, had hit the lottery in a thrift store.

After running some errands and grabbing dinner, we got home after dark. Not being one to disappoint her happiness high, we put the skates on and went outside to play in the dark. She skated up and down the sidewalk, holding my hands, for 20 minutes.

While I was watching her, I'm reminded this is what I'm waiting for. I'm waiting for my child to grasp my hands tightly as they experience something new. I'm waiting for the wobbly legs sliding in a V as they learn to skate for the first time. I'm waiting for the moment when I teach them to bend down, hold your knees, and watch as they see how exciting it is as I push them. I'm waiting for the excitement of realizing they can do something new.

It's moments like these, as I live through A, where I'm reminded that the wait will be worth it. The tears of uncertainty will all be worth it.