Five year old on wheels

A five year old rollerskating for the first time is about the equivalent of a dog on skates. Just picture it.

Athena and I went to a birthday party at the local Rollerama this afternoon. Ah my youth was spent at such a place. It is just the same. I debated taking Zoe too, because she really really wanted to go*, and siblings were allowed. But Chris was staying home with the Dude and I didn't think I could manage both of them on skates. I'm so glad it was just Athena because I was basically holding her up with all my strength while she flailed about. No balance, no instinct, no ability to stop.

It was super fun meeting all the parent in her class while sweating profusely having just walked her, bent over and simultaneously holding her up and catching her, around the rink. I was not wearing skates. Although I did see a Mom, older than me, wearing legwarmers and skating her baby in a stroller around the ring. I wanted to give her the big thumbs up and ask to have a playdate, but I didn't.

A whole new world opened up to Athena today. She loved it. The party room had carpeting and she was able to skate on her own from the table to me a few times. Finding her skating legs, figuring it out. By the last go-round she was only holding my hand, although hanging on for dear life, but she had gotten it. It was amazing to see her learn so quickly. And she can't wait to go back. This time with the whole family and me on roller skates rolling John Patrick in a stroller.

Maybe we'll do it for our anniversary. After all this is the exact Rollerama that Chris and I had one of our first dates. But that's another story...

(* Don't feel too bad for Zoe she had just come back from a birthday party. This was the second party of our day.)