Skating Dreams

Reliving your childhood through your children is one of those special privileges of being a parent.

The year was 1980 and I was in second grade. The Winter Olympics were on and I was enthralled with figure skating. I remember my mom letting me stay up late to watch all I could. The skaters were so beautiful and talented and I was sure that I could do it if only I had the chance. I didn't have access to an ice rink, but I did have a linoleum kitchen floor and a pair of socks. I could make myself spin, do figure eights, twirls, and jumps. In my mind, the crowd went wild as I finished with a triple axel.


Isn't the imagination of a child a wonderous thing? Yesterday, I watched my daughter in her own skating dream. The van was pulled out of the garage and the bikes were all pushed to the side. The dirty cement floor became glossy hardwood and her father's size 10 roller skates became her magical slippers. They were stuffed with extra gloves she had found and she used hockey sticks to steady herself at first, but they gave her the power of transportation. She played music on her iPod and twirled around the floor for an hour. I'm sure the crowd was cheering as tricks were played out in her mind.



History repeats itself in big and small ways. What do you see in your children that reminds you of you?



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27 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 18, 2014 at 10:17 AM

    This is lovely. What a treasure to be able to capture that moment!
    I don't know...that's a great question! I see so much of my husband's siblings in my children. Sometimes I forget to watch for me. Hmmm.
    Marie, if you get a moment today, would you offer some words of comfort and hope to Julie at Pushing Forward with Grace? Thank you!

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  2. LeilaniAugust 18, 2014 at 11:07 AM

    I love the way you edited those pics! And I agree with the above comment. I'm always pretty good at noticing when the kids do something like their dad or uncles or aunts. . . I pay less attention when they do something like me.

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    1. normaleverydaylifeAugust 18, 2014 at 12:39 PM

      Thanks, Leilani! That's the grunge setting on Snapseed. Doesn't sound very pretty, but I thought it looked sort of dreamlike! :)

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  3. My New HappyAugust 18, 2014 at 11:31 AM

    I still love figure skating! I took lessons in my younger days, but I'm pretty rusty now. I'm afraid I'd fall and break something :). Such great pictures of your daughter - how fun!

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    1. normaleverydaylifeAugust 18, 2014 at 12:41 PM

      That must have been really fun to learn, Lana! I'd be afraid of breaking something at this point in life, too. I still enjoy watching though! :)

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  4. Queen Mom JenAugust 18, 2014 at 3:19 PM

    These pictures are awesome! I was a skating fanatic as a kid and loved it. I have taken (dragged) my children roller skating multiple times only to have them cry and complain the whole time. Jeez, can't they just let me relive a little of my childhood through them every once in a while.... :)

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    1. normaleverydaylifeAugust 18, 2014 at 4:10 PM

      Haha! This has happened to me multiple time, too! I'm always trying to get my kids to participate in something I thought was fun growing up and more often than not, it falls kind of flat. :( I guess they have their own ideas of fun!

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  5. The ReedsAugust 18, 2014 at 3:45 PM

    That's so sweet! Our girls are so small we're just at the start of this but it's so neat to hear in other people. Thanks for your encouraging words today!

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    1. normaleverydaylifeAugust 18, 2014 at 4:17 PM

      You're welcome, Georgia! If you haven't seen it much now, you will soon! :)

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  6. AnonymousAugust 18, 2014 at 3:54 PM

    How sweet!!!

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  7. Simply Suzannes at HomeAugust 18, 2014 at 5:10 PM

    Hi Marie!
    I was so happy to see that you came by and left a comment. It feels so good to be back in the routine of the blogging. I've made so many wonderful friends like you, and I've missed hearing from you all :0)
    I love this post!! I feel my heart sing every time my oldest daughter bakes with me, or creates/crafts something of her very own. She's so creative and talented . . . and reminds me so much of the way that I was at her age. My kiddos always leave me feeling so blessed.
    I hope you're having a great start to your week!!
    Suzanne

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  8. LeslieAugust 18, 2014 at 7:34 PM

    Oh how fun! I'm glad she's good at it and getting the hang of it. It's always good to have a hobby and a dream. Happy Monday!

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  9. AnonymousAugust 19, 2014 at 6:41 AM

    How lovely, hope it brings back some fond memories of your childhood dreams. For me, it was ballet with my own daughters. I never got to have lessons, but my daughters danced from aged 4-17 and managed to achieve Royal Academy Grade 6!

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  10. Carie @ Space for the ButterfliesAugust 20, 2014 at 6:47 AM

    I've never been able to skate but I do watch my oldest daughter twirl and dance around the lounge and wonder whether she's dancing the sugar plum fairy like I used to in my head when I was tiny!

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  11. UnknownAugust 20, 2014 at 9:39 PM

    Oh I just love this! I was never a skater but I longed to be a Solid Gold dancer - LOL. I used to dance while watching music videos in our family room. When I see my girls dancing up a storm, it reminds me of those early years.

    Wishing you a lovely evening.
    xoxo

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    1. UnknownAugust 21, 2014 at 5:31 PM

      I'm so delighted you chose to share this post today at the #SHINEblog hop.

      Thank you!

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  12. Emma TAugust 21, 2014 at 4:29 AM

    Oh that's lovely.

    I used to dance, but I also wanted to be a horse rider and a skater and used to read tonnes of fiction books about both. Not sure my son will be interested in either, but I hope he does have a dream to enjoy even if he doesn't achieve it
    #sharewithme

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  13. Let's Talk MommyAugust 22, 2014 at 9:26 PM

    This is awesome. What a great moment to capture. These photos are fantastic. Love them. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme

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  14. anointedtodayAugust 24, 2014 at 5:02 PM

    Very good. It is great that you are able to see this and realize this in your child. Although, all of my children have their own dreams and different aspects I see in them. I see many of my strengths in them and I give God the glory for that. One child in particular comes to mind at age two she would change the entire stories to "Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs." She was quite creative and she is still creating and changing the world around her for the good.

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    1. normaleverydaylifeAugust 25, 2014 at 10:04 PM

      That's wonderful, Betty! Neat to see that she started creating so young and still does it!

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  15. Coombe Mill - FionaAugust 25, 2014 at 7:48 AM

    How great to have that in common with her, I often watch as my daughter does her gymnastics and ballet and wonder if in her mind she's performing on stage. Popping in from Magic Moments.

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  16. Jaime OliverAugust 25, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    awww this is beautiful and so great you managed to capture that moment! x

    thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments

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  17. kateonthiniceAugust 26, 2014 at 7:06 AM

    Love this post. Took me right back to trying to look like Katrina Witt and jump like Robin Cousins. I love how history repeats and take us back and forwards too. Lovely post altogether

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