Roller Shuffling

P.E. is our newest homeschool activity we've joined through our St. Tammany HEA group. Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. kids from 4 yrs. old through high school get together in a hockey arena near Madisonville, LA, get with their age groups and have good, old-fashioned P.E. Maddie and Justis start their calisthenics with laps, push-ups, sit-ups and stretches and then play a game (this month it's basketball) and end with the fun things like scooter races and playing with the parachute. An area of toys and coloring is reserved for the littler ones and their mothers, where Dawson, Jillian and I hang out.

The last Thursday of the month is skating day at P.E., though. The hockey rink doubles as a roller skating rink and activity center, so the all of the age groups of kids strap on skates provided by the arena and are let loose to roller skate!

Last Thursday was our first skating day, since we joined P.E. at the beginning of the month. None of my children have roller skated before, so I knew we were in for an interesting time.

We spent a good 20 minutes putting on skates, simply because I only have two hands and six wiggly feet to fit skates on! S

Skates strapped on and ready to go, the kids stood up. We had to somehow make it from the front of the building to the back of the building, where the entrance to the rink is. Jillian was in the stroller, so I grabbed Dawson's hand, pushed the stroller with the other and told Justis to hang on to the stroller and we would go SLOWLY to the rink entrance. Madalynn's hands were held by two helpful women who helped her along behind me so she wouldn't fall.

The kids busted out their skills once they were in the rink! Well, maybe they just busted their butts, but it was still fun to watch! ;)

Madalynn realized quickly that because of her height she has further to fall, therefore she hugged the wall very closely. Justis was brave enough to try allowing me to pull him along until he fell on his tush, too. Dawson, with his low center of gravity and extra cushioning was bravest of all. He felt comfortable going it alone, but he, too, had a sore tailbone by the end of the short skate.

Thirty minutes of slowly and cautiously shuffling across the wall and back hanging on for dear life was enough fun for the afternoon, the kids all decided. Maddie was particularly frustrated. She clearly had dreams of quickly conquering the skates and being a graceful skater like she sees on TV. I assured her practice is all it takes. There were also plenty of other kids just starting out on skates, so they didn't feel alone in learning how to skate.

I didn't ask, but I'm sure they'll be ready to brave it again next month!