The winter session of ice skating is coming to a close. It is Thane’s second session.

Thane is an observer by nature. He watches, takes in the situation before he participates. We can tell his sister is going to be the one to jump head first into the pool (actuality, not just speculation).

Thane is the youngest by 6 months, and, in most cases, 1+ years in his Snow Plow 1 class. That is a daunting situation for any 2.5 year old. He has done well. Friends of ours have said, “as long as he wants to get back on the ice after he leaves, it is a good day.” And he has. Each and every time.

In the first session, he watched. He stood carefully on the ice. Walked when needed and maintained a perfect statue pose. He generally showed more enthusiasm for the sticker that was placed on his helmet after class.

In the second session, Thane has earned that sticker (and sometimes two!). He walks with ease, glides when asked, shimmies, and bends. He listens to his teachers and has even gone faster than some other kids, nearly pushing them out of his way. He is not at the top of his class, but not at the bottom either. Thane will never remember a time when he did not skate.

After class, his reward (in addition to the sticker) is to watch the big kids (aka 7 year olds) play hockey. We tell him that he will do that one day if he keeps listening to his teacher and doing as she says.

On Monday, a makeup dau for us, I made the mistake of letting his watch the hockey players BEFORE his lesson. Big mistake. He put up a fuss when it was time for class and you could tell by the slump of his skates when we finally coerced him on the ice that his heart was not in it.

Of course, Monday was graduation…and grade day….

Below is his report card. We are definitely keeping him in snow plow 1 for one more session, to get his sea legs and really get comfortable. The two things Ellie mentioned (not his regular teacher) as not accomplished he can actually do…when he wants to.

The type is bad so what it says is:
A. Sit and stand up with skates on: off ice? YES
B. Sit and stand up with skates on: on ice? YES
C. March in place? YES
D. March forward, 8-10 steps: NO (But he can)
E. March then glide on two feet: No (He just learned this last week)
F: Dip in place, bend knees: YES