Something Odd is Happening

I've had the worst cold for the past week, just enough energy to carry on through the day. It's still lingering, terrible headache today, temperature issues (toohot/toocold) and bad sinuses. But I did manage to get the baking done for the week, and I have pizza for lunch for tomorrow and Tuesday. Grocery bill this week; $38 and some change, but I have a lot of stuff leftover from last week. I will survive.

Today was kiddo's first round with a private coach. He did great, did a true two foot spin and some crossovers, I was impressed! I should have warned Coach that he will cheat in any way possible, but she learned that when he tried to pull some wonky hops and just refused to do a hockey stop. Other than that, he got a lot out of it so we'll continue every other week. (as promised.)

It's strange, something is happening here. Something that's not the skating but is a direct result of it. For the past two years I've been waiting for THE BOY to arrive. You know, the mouthy, argumentative, pushy, daredevil, testy boy. He didn't show up, and I was enjoying a cuddly protraction of toddlerhood. But over the past weeks I've seen a distinct change in my little boy, and he doesn't seem so little anymore. I think THE BOY is here. I see him on the rink, skating around and refusing to do anything for me, MOM, but he'll try a "shoot the duck" for Coach. He skates very well, and the confidence is starting to carry over and out of the rink. He did a lap backwards and two laps without lifting his skates off the ice, challenging himself. He's never done anything like that before, and I'm proud more of the fact he's testing himself rather than he skated backwards.

I'm glad, but I'll miss my cuddles. I was starting to wonder when and what would start to grow him up. If it's skating, then I will start pinching my pennies.

Private Coach mentioned that perhaps I should move him out of the PA2 class and into her Alpha 1 class. This might interfere with our "get the patches" mission, and there's certainly no harm in letting him stay in PA2. I told PCoach "We'll see," which as anyone knows is Mom Code for "No." I like Group Coach a lot, and I like the other parents in that class, too. For me to move him would be making a statement I don't want to make. And it's not like it's going to retard him to stay in PA2.

I skated a bit with one of the other moms, and we finally vented about Old Group Coach. We are both glad to get our kids away from her. She obviously didn't like the little kids. Her every move and expression belied the fact that she was wanting to be elsewhere. She was overly physically aggressive at times, at one point jerking up Kiddo's arms, and at another point pushing one of the girls downwards to correct bad posture. (Makes a lot of sense, I know.) I figure if Kiddo can get through her, then perhaps he stands a chance against other future bad coaches. And now I have a good idea of what bad coaching looks like.

What I didn't know was the incident after the "midterms" last session, where Poor Coach yelled at this other mom for her kids not being able to skate. "There's nothing to see, quack quack quack." According to Other Mom, this is a direct quote. I think at that point I would have gone to another coach for guidance, but as it was Kiddo was skating fine so Poor Coach let him be.

During Friday Skate, I noticed one of the "cooler" coaches taking a peek in at the rink and speaking with one of the guards. (the nice one who first showed Kiddo a crossover.) Later, Guard skated over and told me that Cool Coach had his eye on Kiddo. That felt nice, and a good affirmation that what I see is talent and not Mom Goggles. I didn't tell Kiddo, as Cool Coach does pairs, and Kiddo does not want to do Pairs.

Ah well. One day at a time.