sarcastic and honest thoughts on getting your preschooler to ski.

Age 3  (the fail at Big White)

1. Wrestle small child into thermal layers, ski pants, ski jacket, helmet, goggles, gloves.
2. Rest from the exhausting cardio workout.
3. Bring small child to ski lessons.
4. Ignore small child's requests that she only wants to ski with daddy and mommy. Take small child to 'preschool ski school'
5. Tall Aussie man with reflective goggles attempts to take small child to the bunny hill.
6. Small child wails and wails and wails.
7. Take small child away from tall Aussie man.  Small child is relieved and thrilled to ski with Daddy.
8.  $69.00 + tax for the lesson is non-refundable. Parent wails and wails and wails.

post ski school trauma

Age 4 (the redemption year)

1. Buy used ski gear. Let small child get excited about skiing by wearing skis around the house.

2. Notice big scratches on hardwood floor. Allow small child to only ski on small rug in the bathroom.
3. Go to Big White. Promise small child she will not be left with tall Aussie man this year.

4. Attempt to teach small child yourself. Experience some success running alongside on the bunny hill. However, realize that teaching small child to ski while on a snowboard is impossible.

5. Borrow your mom's skis that are at least one size too small.
6. Realize that you haven't skied in two decades and it is not like riding a bike. The skill does not come back.

7. Put small child in a hula hoop and ski down bunny hill with her. Praise the Lord that you didn't trip over your own skis and fall on small child.
8. Husband buys a skiing leash and teaches small child to ski while on a snowboard. Even manages to navigate small child on leash in the glades and not get tangled in a tree.Wife is dumbfounded how he does this. 

9. Return home with small child excited to keep skiing. Register small child for ski lessons at Grouse mountain with her good friend. Promise there will not be any tall Aussies there.

10. Small child loves her ski lessons. Moves from level 1 to level 3 after first lesson. Reward small child with over priced fries in cafeteria.

11. Continue with the next 3 lessons. Every time it is P.O.U.R.I.N.G. rain. Proud that small child and friend are happy skiing in ponchos and muddy buddy.

12. Last lesson, teacher takes small child down 'the Cut'. 14. I am almost teary in nostalgia because I still remember skiing down the Cut when I first took lessons at Grouse. *see excerpt from childhood diary below

14. Daddy takes small child skiing. Small child is beaming to show Daddy she can take the chair lift and turn and stop all by herself.

15. Realize of all the activities I want small child to be able to do (swimming, gymnastics, dance, skating) that being able to ski with her is one of the most meaningful because it was a family activity that I have such fond memories off all through my life (again see excerpt from childhood diary below). Therefore cue the happy dance that small child seems to be liking skiing as much as I hoped she would.

16. Buy small child and myself a seasons pass so we can keep making more snowy memories.

 17. Begin scouring Craigslist for skis small enough for a 2 year old....

*Below are excerpts from my childhood journal - apparently I couldn't spell very well and embraced the neon of the 90's

Jan 4 1992
We went skiing at Grouse. I have my own ski poles, ski boots, skis, and googles. My dad has all those things too. My mom and my sister Rainbow has everything exept the poles. We went down the Cut. That's one of the sort of steep ones. It is steep and lumpy and the snow are very hard packed. we ski down Cut. My sister and I jump over the lumps. My Dad and Mom trip over the lumps. Mom likes going down Paradise. It is not as long and lumpy. On Cut you ski for a far way and come up by chairs that are hung on a long string. You jump off at the end. I saw a lady who forgot to jump off. A man had to stop the thing. That's funny.

Dec 3 1994
My sister and I both have our own skis, poles, boots, ski suite, toook, ski gloves and everything. So do my parents. My mom does too. (Even skiing is OK for my mom). But Rainbow, (my sister) love to speed. And my mom likes to "take it easy" so Rainbow and I usually reach the end of the slope first. My dad likes to "go fast" but its not speed. If he goes fast, he falls.
I've gone skiing at Grouse Mountain and Whistler Mountain. I never been to Sypres
                         
Jan 6 1994
In the holidays we also went to Whistler. We drove all the way to Scamish. we ate a big breakfast there and we went back in the car. it was a long ride. We skied down "Pony Tril". I got tangle and my skis hit me on the face. My Dad kept falling and my mom snowplowed everywhere so it took a long time to get to the bottom. In fact it took an hour and half. My mom rested and my fater, sister and I skied down again. This time it only took 1 hour!

I love that I documented skiing when I was young so here I am continuing to chronicle the hopeful beginning of small child ( and soon little brother) embracing this family tradition!