Pull Yourself Up by the Skate Straps, Kid!

As I have stated many, many times, Evan is well…a first born, perfectionist, slightly obsessed, slightly antisocial in large group settings, doesn’t like to try new things…okay you get the point!

Evan has a tendency to WANT to try new things, but when it comes right down to it, the stress of it all keeps him from doing it! Case in point, it took him almost a year to FINALLY try one of the blow up jumping houses, almost 2 months this summer to actually “play” at the pool although I still couldn’t get him to go down the water slide even though Carter was doing it by the end of the summer, and almost 6 months to go up into the large play place by himself at the local arcade.  And then there was the time that we were at a carnival, and I literally had to pick him up kicking and screaming and place him on a toddler ride. What’s the worse that could happen, they would have to stop the ride early? But within a couple of minutes he was laughing and enjoying himself and wanted to “do it again, Mommy”.

He is me!! I tend to be a little harder on him then his father because I know his type . He is a perfectionist who doesn’t want to try anything new because the stress of the unknown ( and of failing)is too much!He analyzes EVERY situation and if looks to “dangerous” he won’t have anything to do with it! Besides the fact that he really doesn’t like a lot of kids running around him!

Now that I have given all of that info, let me tell you how his first day of ice skating went. You know the class that he BEGGED to do because he wants to play hockey so badly!! Yeah that class!

Excited to start his class!

One last hug from Mom before class started

Even when he noticed all the kids in his class he was still “all smiles”. It was too cute watching him watch his teacher! He was taking it all in and focusing on just her. So far so good!

Warming up and learning new techniques before heading to the ice

Off he goes! First time ever on the ice!

At this point my stress level has sky rocketed because he is on his own and I know what is coming up next. But to my surprise he is standing firm and staying composed!

Following orders to stand still on his spot

Until…

losing focus...was instructed to stand on his spot...but couldn't stop.

He fell a couple of times and stayed composed. Pulled himself up every time. Until he started moving and couldn’t stop himself. The teacher was dealing with several of kids at the time and Evan just a’ went a gliding over the ice uncontrolled! And the fact that the teacher wasn’t right there to help, made him lose it! All of a sudden he felt lost and alone! And of course the tears and the crying started. After the teacher tried to console him she looked up at the stands where we were and gave us “the look”. We ran down to meet her and Evan coming off the ice. He wailed and bawled! This was the face that continued until we got home…

My sad little boy

After a few moments of consoling he said he was ready to go back onto the ice. He made it 1 minute! Off he came again. Until an “Angel on Skates” (another teacher who realized that there was too many kids in the class – 8 when there should only be 6) came over and convinced him to skate with her! He begrudgingly took her hand and off they went – one on one! That is his more speed. We even got a smile and a wave from him.

One on One time

All was well, until the class was over. And the bawling and convulsions tears began again.

“I don’t WANT TO leave! I want to skate! I want to play hockey!”

“Sweetheart, we will be back on Thursday and you can skate again!”

“I DON’T WANT to come back! I HATE ice skating! I just want to play hockey!”

{Okay kid make up your mind!}

He cried off and on all the way home. But we will try it again on Thursday! Of course, Daddy could make a funny out of a tantrum. He would laugh hysterically then start bawling again, laugh, cry, laugh cry!

daddy makes everything better

This is typical of Evan, he “freaks out” slightly until he feels comfortable in the situation and then LOVES it. So I am hoping for the best! FINGERS CROSSED – or I might just be out of the $$ I paid for this class if he refuses to finish!