I’m always on the lookout for signs that the kids have certain qualities that will make them “useful little engines” when they become adults. Yesterday, I got a great illustration of one from the boy.
It was at hockey practice. The coaches had the kids in three lines and they had to skate the length of the ice through a simple obstacle course. The course consisted of a series of 5 pads: 3 down on the ice, the other two suspended above the ice using some walkers. They were arranged in alternating fashion- “down-up-down-up-down” so to speak. The pads are about 15 inches high, 18 inches wide and 12 feet long or so. Good size.
The kids went through a series of drills negotiating the pads. The first drills involved serpentine patterns through the course and then doing circles. Then they had to skate around the “down” pads while going under the “up” pads by diving and sliding on their bellies.
Now this series of drills was a lot of fun for spectators. It was one of those times where the kids didn’t have to think about what they were doing. They just had to skate- fast. We could almost see them getting better right before our eyes as just about every single one started to realize they could complete the drills competently. There was a group of us cheering the kids on as they progressed.
Like I said, a lot of fun.
Finally, they kids were instructed to jump over the down pads, then go under the up pads. This drill had to be a brutal for them because of the effort involved in getting up off the ice while completing the course.
The first time down, just about every kid just climbed over the down pad. There were a couple, however, who chose to dive over the pad. Which was awesome. So after the first couple starting diving with success, the meme spread and on the next run through every kid was attempting to dive over the “down” pads.
Now, keep in mind that the pads are big. Most of the kids would dive and only make it part way across the pad. Some, who could go fast enough and time the jump well enough, were able to clear it completely. The boy was among this latter group.
And then he decided to try something else.
It was on the last run through that he attempted to hurdle the pad. The first pad and second pad he clipped with his lead skate and fell on the other side. Keep in mind that for the second and third “down” pad, he had to get up from a slide under the intervening up pad- meaning he didn’t have as much ice to get up to speed. He managed to clear the third pad, actually landing on his skate, but he couldn’t stay up.
At this point a couple other parents noticed his attempts as well and made some comments about how close he got.
On his way back down, he had the same result over the first two “down” pads- clearing them but falling down. Then, on the last jump he cleared the pad, landed on his skate, teetered a little … and stayed up. Amusingly, he coasted across the end line, came to a stop to wait in line, and then fell down on his rear.
Those of us who saw it gave him a big cheer. I almost hit my head on the ceiling I jumped so high when he managed to stick the landing.
It was a really good moment for him. Least of all, though, because he successfully hurdled that pad.
No, what he accomplished for himself there was something that can set him apart later in life. On his own, he chose to do something hard. Harder, in fact, than what was actually expected from him. Then, once he chose that path, even after he failed he kept working at it, making adjustments to get him closer to his goal. Right up until the end, where his effort was rewarded with a successful attempt.
Even if he had not stuck the landing on that last jump, what he did was something worth noting. The ability to challenge himself and persevere will serve him well all his life. He’ll only remember that he successfully hurdled that pad last. And that is probably as it should be. For him, it was just a successful experiment.
But as a parent, I can recognize he successfully hurdled something more important than that. Namely, himself.