When ice-skating with a child, and the child keeps falling down, let it. It has to get a feel for it. For falling down, for getting back up. At most, hold its hand. At very most, keep it from falling down by holding it up by the hand. Help it back up, again by its hand.
Do not attempt to catch it by the hood of its coat, because this may result in ripping said hood off the coat, and cost you an hour squinting, threading needle and sewing said hood back on before mom comes home from business trip.
Snow today, and/or black ice.
Also, do not attempt to pull child up by hood if jacket is zippered up to the neck, as this can result in obstruction of airway and claims by the child that your purposefully choked her in order to end this silly charade of learning how to ice skate.
totally what michele said.
[Note to CPS people: child in question was wearing thick scarf, which protected neck, plus coat was *not* zipped all the way up, so that weight was borned primarily by armpits and *not* throat.]
I had a moment yesterday, when I had to be goaded, hard, into sledding at the Pixar holiday party. I had never sledded before – my mom sort of forbade doing things that might make her feel awkward or look bad, directly or indirectly. One of my big heroes accosted me at the door as I was leaving and said “go! do it! it’s kinetic vs. potential!” and it resounded. Bruised butts are good.
Wow, did they have artificial snow?
Snow blower, bales of hay, little pyramids of Pannetone set up around the place, gingerbread huose decorating stations, and bars staffed by pretty young goth boys. That right there is how to rock the holiday party, yo.
Cool, I hope you took pictures so I can show Beta