tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post1355816561946168648..comments2024-03-12T17:53:41.023-05:00Comments on Ice Mom's Adventures in Figure Skating: Figure Skating Ice Time: It Doesn’t Happen without the GradesIce Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05639175462486739483noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-66891595888598639422010-02-25T22:15:54.613-06:002010-02-25T22:15:54.613-06:00Hi, Anony.
Thanks for the great comment. It's...Hi, Anony.<br /><br />Thanks for the great comment. It's really too bad when young girls have overbearing mothers. It's too bad that the terrific skater you mentioned is wanting to quit and she has no Plan B.<br /><br />Ice MomIce Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05639175462486739483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-90560838654525478812010-02-25T21:46:27.551-06:002010-02-25T21:46:27.551-06:00Perfectly said Ice Mom! My daughter adores skating...Perfectly said Ice Mom! My daughter adores skating but she also loves alot of other things like art,lacrosse,cheering,and dance. I really believe that kids should have a variety of interests to keep them happy and balanced,and of course academics should come first. A skating mom at our rink absolutely decompensated a few weeks back when her daughter didn't take first place in a competition. The child is a great skater and loves it but has no other activities or interests. Her mom has put such pressure on her to skate that I can see the stress wearing her down and now I hear that she wants to quit.She has no plan B. Thankfully she's young enough to start a Plan B now. Maybe she'll discover something new that she loves and her mom learned something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-87475944994235464652010-02-03T09:56:10.057-06:002010-02-03T09:56:10.057-06:00Xan,
This drives me nuts. If a kid is doing well ...Xan,<br /><br />This drives me nuts. If a kid is doing well in school and is involved in an outside activity in which they are disciplined and progressing - and that discipline will only carry over to other areas of their life - then why the heck can't they get off some school time for a national level competition. Because we all know that if it were football players or even band, those kids get off school time to travel, etc. <br /><br />I think this topic deserves and entire post itself. We recently have come up against needing time off for test sessions and competitions. I had to go all the way to the school board and beyond to get someone to listen and show how having high-achieving athletes, musicians, artists in the school and allowing them the time they need to be the best they can be while still balancing academics only benefits the school. Argh! Yes, an entire post there waiting to be written.josetteplank.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16790825543155685363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-83648015309403335582010-02-01T17:24:00.307-06:002010-02-01T17:24:00.307-06:00I completely agree with your blog comments on this...I completely agree with your blog comments on this matter. <br /><br />I have always told my daughter that she should skate for herself and to make her happy and whenever this sport no longer makes her happy she should do something different. If she wanted to persue going to the Olympics I would support her but if she just wanted to skate for the pure fun of skating that is okay with me. <br /><br />The pressure that this sport puts on our children to become Olympic Champions is rediculous. Other than gymnastics, I can not think of any other sport were it has every person you tell that your child is involved in skating or gymnastics, illicet the question "Are you going to the Olympics?!"<br /><br />I really wish they would make synchronized and theater on ice skating Olympic events. This would open the door to allow more skaters to live the Olympic dream because they are team sports.<br /><br />I also agree that good grades and academic success should come before skating. If you look at most elite figure skaters they are very academically successful. Most of them go to ivy league colleges (Harvard, Prinston, Yale, U of M).<br /><br />I also agree that every athelete should have a Plan B because you never know if injury, financial problems or burnout are going to take you out of the sport you enjoy. response by: SeasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-51626397771243371342010-01-30T07:51:49.595-06:002010-01-30T07:51:49.595-06:00I agree that academics must come first, but I'...I agree that academics must come first, but I'm going to add a "usually." My daughter went to Jr Nationals as a junior in high school, and her school would not let her miss more than 2 days. So she had to fly in (from sea level to the mountains with no time to acclimate), do a late night practice session, an early morning practice session and the competition, all in a 36 hour period. She missed everything about competing except the stress. She did poorly at the competition and never really forgave the school for not understanding how important skating was to her. It isn't balance if it doesn't work in both directions.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-29942108163852365022010-01-27T21:56:08.768-06:002010-01-27T21:56:08.768-06:00This is so timely! I just had discussions with my...This is so timely! I just had discussions with my skater's personal coach and synchro coach. With their support, if she has not improved dramatically with her school work (we homeschool) she will be pulled out of all skating after the next competition. I would pull her out now, but I already spent way too much on the next competition.bethalicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18296777392592290217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-91227597684714842192010-01-26T10:39:41.739-06:002010-01-26T10:39:41.739-06:00Sorry for the long post, but I often wrestle with ...Sorry for the long post, but I often wrestle with this topic.<br /><br />In the many things that our children will seek to attain, it’s not a matter of wanting bad enough – but wanting the same thing long enough to make it happen. <br /><br />If you wish to play piano, or figure skate at a high level of competency you must practice for years to achieve that goal. How do our kids get this concept? By doing. Just as learning certain skating elements needs to be a “muscle memory” excelling at a sport or instrument teaches a young person who lives in a world of instant gratification the simple formula: Work + time = success. This is the “muscle memory” that they will need pursue advanced academic degrees in later in life, to save for a home purchase, to build a business, etc. <br /><br />So if you believe there needs to be a healthy dose of achievement in childhood how do you find the balance? In our home the balance is arrived at by setting simple rules and priorities. Academics are king - school comes first. Commitments are honored. Free time, piano, sports, socializing, TV are all juggled through the week. Not everyday is the balance perfect, and we have plenty of conflicts and occasional late night homework sessions. But this is a lesson too. Hopefully we provide a good mix in the long run, teach some time management skills & self discipline.SzuSzuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11643042806018155214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-2180417428253106032010-01-26T09:52:41.590-06:002010-01-26T09:52:41.590-06:00Hey, Jozet.
No, I haven't read Warrior Girls ...Hey, Jozet.<br /><br />No, I haven't read <i>Warrior Girls</i> I'm about to do a library search.<br /><br />Thanks for the recommendation!<br /><br />Ice MomIce Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05639175462486739483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-32365534933436537652010-01-26T09:50:02.464-06:002010-01-26T09:50:02.464-06:00Hey, Prettybowtie!
Absolutely! Link away! :)
I h...Hey, Prettybowtie!<br /><br />Absolutely! Link away! :)<br /><br />I hope you're doing well,<br /><br />Ice MomIce Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05639175462486739483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-49939125736568720242010-01-25T20:50:13.002-06:002010-01-25T20:50:13.002-06:00I spend a bit of my time with ex-Olympic skaters, ...I spend a bit of my time with ex-Olympic skaters, and the thing they always say is that they wish they'd finished school/gone to uni done something in case it didn't work out. Lucky for them it did, but I can imagine how hard to would be if skating was your whole world. <br /><br />I wish more parents had the inspiring and positive outlook you do!<br /><br />Also- would you mind if I send a link of this entry to the head of my skating club? I feel they need to see this, as they're of the 'skating above all' persuasion.Prettybowtienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-74487673284001222482010-01-25T20:36:25.913-06:002010-01-25T20:36:25.913-06:00Exactly and precisely and perfectly said.
Music, ...Exactly and precisely and perfectly said.<br /><br />Music, language, art, athletics, science, academics, outdoorsmanship...all these and more are ways our children relate to the world and learn to understand people around them as well as themselves. Of course, much might be learned through rigorous attention to one facet of who they are or could be.<br /><br />However, a smashed-up knee a few months ago clarified for us very quickly what the risks are of identifying oneself mainly via one definition.<br /><br />My skater is back on the ice, and she's going at it with gusto and determination and discipline. However, I am also making sure that my kids learn about and define themselves and their abilities and the world by exploring many road. Firing many rockets, as it were.<br /><br />Have you read "Warrior Girls"? It's a great book about the higher risk and incidence of sports related injuries in female athletes and how to prevent them, but there is also a very smart and thoughtful discussion on the sometimes skewed view of importance of sports in our children's lives - especially, maybe, in American culture. A good read. I'd like to hear your take on it (if you haven't already reviewed it?)josetteplank.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16790825543155685363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-55020838632606251812010-01-25T20:11:51.165-06:002010-01-25T20:11:51.165-06:00thank you ice mom for reminding me i have finals t...thank you ice mom for reminding me i have finals to study for (but how do you do that when you wake up for 6 am ice?). <br />can't I just take a final in skating?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598357895737427353.post-28956104107758191432010-01-25T19:46:43.840-06:002010-01-25T19:46:43.840-06:00Here, here! Does not matter WHAT your moon is (mus...Here, here! Does not matter WHAT your moon is (music, dance, math) there must be a Plan B. Life has a pesky habit of making the moon move.RedShamrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08326488158457452579noreply@blogger.com