About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
This is going to probably be the most controversial thing I’ve ever said. Here goes…
I HATE SKATING! I hate everything about skating. I hate carrying around cumbersome skates and helmets. I hate the smell of ice rinks. I hate the fact that ice rinks are cold. I see absolutely NO FUN at all about skating. NOTHING. NADA.
And, yes, I am Canadian. My daughter (as I’m sure your children do) skates once a week at school during the winter. I wake up on these “skate” days as tense as anything.
I do not see skates. I see blades. I do not see full-face helmets. I see little children looking like Hannibal Lector. I see blades that could possible poke my daughter’s eye out and think of other skaters bashing into her.
In fact, I think skating should be OPTIONAL as opposed to MANDATORY. (I may just start a petition…)
Just because we’re Canadian, why the heck does that mean we need to learn how to skate? Do we have to love maple syrup because we’re Canadian? No. Do we have to like beavers because we’re Canadian? No. So why the #$& do we have to like and learn how to skate?
Why not make soccer mandatory, or volleyball, or fencing? Honestly, the most interesting thing about an ice rink to me is the Zamboni. In fact, I honestly think that swimming is a WAY more important skill to learn than skating.
Last week was my daughter’s first time on the ice in a year. I got an email after the skating session from her teacher telling me that my daughter fell and hurt her back. She seemed fine, I was told, but I was completely freaking out. And she wasn’t exactly fine when she came home. She was walking like an 85-year-old with a bad hip.
Let me be clear. My daughter loves to skate. She is just the WORST skater ever. And I’m OK with that. Even she’s OK with that. In fact, we had a huge giggle when I asked her if she was the worst skater in her class.
“Yes, I AM the worst,” she laughed.
“Well, good for you. You can be the BEST WORST skater. If anyone says anything to you, just say to them, ‘Dude! I’m the WORST SKATER and I’m proud of it!’” I told her.
She loved that line. “Dude! I’m the WORST SKATER and I’m proud of it!,” she screamed out.
In any case, can someone PLEASE explain the appeal of skating? I just don’t get it at all.