What I Did While Ellie Was at the Babysitters

I took Joey ice skating. Actually, Jared and I took Joey ice skating, leaving Sam and Ellie with my friend Tish. I haven't been ice skating in years, but I loved it when I was a kid, growing up in Minnesota where everybody ice skates and there are rinks on every corner. When the homeschool co-op announced a fieldtrip to the indoor rink I knew we had to be there.

Joey has been dying to ice skate ever since he saw a picture of it in a book. He was sure it would be so easy, but he discovered that it takes practice. Undaunted, Joey practiced with his instrinsic Joey grit, and by the time we left he was skating very short distances by himself.

I cannot begin to describe the happiness I felt holding my beautiful five-year-old son's hands as he skated between my knees, as he looked up at me with shining eyes, and as he said, "hold on to me, Mom."

I felt a fulfilling link to my past as I held on to my future.