Anything you can do….

About a year ago, Abby bought herself a ‘Rip Stick’.  For those not familiar with this relatively new recreational device, it is a cross between a skateboard and a scooter.   It has two swivelling wheels, one beneath each of the ‘foot plates’ which are separated by a flexible joint.  To ride it, you place a foot on each plate at either end and rapidly wiggle your body, or bottom or something, until you are moving. 

Abby taught herself to ride the Rip Stick and now glides gracefully around any even surface – which is usually our garage or the local tennis courts.  I am in awe of her balance and agility and marvel the sight of her swirling around. 

I recently ran into a friend, Jacqui, who operates a kite surfing and paddle boarding business.  Jacqui competes internationally in kite surfing and is an inspiring aquatic athlete.  I asked her if she would be running surfing lessons for children during the school holidays, and mentioned that Abby would likely be a natural surfer given her abilities on the rip stick.

Charlotte was listening to my conversation, a fact I didn’t give much consideration to at the time.  It wasn’t until we were at home that evening when I noticed Charlotte out in the garage madly trying to master the Rip Stick.  She had previously shown no interest in it, preferring to bash tennis balls against the garage wall or ride her scooter.  But there she was, inching along the walls, wiggly away with fierce determination.   Putting two and two together, I realized that Charlotte had overheard my comment regarding Abby’s Rip-Sticking and fearful that this may give Abby a competitive edge when it comes to surfing (something which Charlotte is very keen to learn), she immediately resolved to close the gap.

Charlotte can ride the Rip Stick now, albeit with far less grace and style than Abby, but her determination to learn was admirable to say the least.  She picked it up in two days and it was easy to see that she was not going to stop trying until she could do it. 

So when we went to the local tennis courts a few days later for a family game of tennis, and Abby brought the Rip Stick, I decided to have a go.  Well, I didn’t so much ‘decide’, it was more of a diversion and alternative to chucking a tantrum over the fact that Tubs was only hitting the ball to Charlotte and I couldn’t see the point in trying to play tennis with him.

I swapped my racquet for Abby’s Rip Stick and ignoring the confused looks on the children’s faces, I took hold of the tennis court fence.  I boarded the stick and struggled along each side of the court, ignoring the fact that passing traffic and punters in the bar opposite the courts could see me.  I made little progress so asked Abby to help me and she immediately obliged.  She took my hands, ushering me away from my death grip on the fence and made encouraging remarks despite my apparent reluctance to follow her simplest instruction.  Soon it was her turn to play tennis so I called on Charlotte for help rather than regress back to the fence.  She too didn’t hesitate to take my hands and provide instructions and support (mostly in the form of sympathetic giggling). 

With great persistence I managed to Rip Stick for several consecutive metres by the time we went home.  The main lesson learned that afternoon was not how to wiggle along on the board, or that the tennis court fences desperately need replacing (I blame them for my lack of progress), but that the power of encouragement and willful assistance is tremendous, even when coming from children.  I was struck by how I actually believed the girls when they told me I was ‘getting it’ despite all evidence to the contrary, and touched by their congratulations for my slightest achievement.  Not once did they chastise me, or make me feel a fool for trying.  They appeared genuinely excited that I might be able to do something that ‘only kids could do’, and I felt a new bond forming.  So next time you are about to behave like your children by chucking a tantrum, try behaving like them in other ways instead – you may just learn something.