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February 2008
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Sled-iquette

It’s time to accept the snow that has blanketed our lovely area.  There’s almost 2 feet of snow on the ground, and we’re supposed to get some more tomorrow.  This snow is here to stay for a while.  Probably until May.  Ugh.

So Andy and I decided to bundle up the boys and head to a local sledding hill after Noah’s karate class this morning.  It’s a really sunny day, which makes the snow a little more acceptable.  As we were in the car in the parking lot by the hill, getting all of our gear on, a large van pulled in and 5 kids (3 boys and 2 girls, all red-heads!) piled out, followed by their father and, I assume, their grandfather.  Trekking across the field to the hill from the parking lot takes a while with a 4- and 2-year-old while carrying our sleds, so the red-heads all got there much quicker than us.

As we were walking across the field, I was talking to Noah about “sled-iquette.”  You know, the basics.  Don’t walk up the hill in the middle.  Watch for people at the bottom before you start down the hill.  Take turns.  Well, apparently nobody had ever taken the time to talk to the red-heads about this.  As we were carefully walking up to the right of the sledding area, I watched as each of the red-heads (one on a scooter/snowboard type thing, others on plastic sheets that could be rolled up) went down the hill, then walked back up right in the middle.  I thought the father or grandfather would say something, but they didn’t.  Maybe they’ll figure it out as time goes on.  Not so much.

Noah and I got ready to go down the hill and sat at the top of the hill for much longer than we should have, because we were waiting for one of the kids to get out of the way.  While we were waiting, another kid started down the hill, pushed by a sibling who laid in the middle of the hill after giving one last shove.  Great.  Finally, we had our turn, and had a blast.  That sled is really fast for something so basic and cheap!  Andy and Caden quickly followed, Caden’s pink cheeks flanking the huge smile on his face.  Awesome!  Back up the hill we trudged.

And we waited again.  Then had our turn.  We climbed back up, trading kids, Caden with me, and Noah with Andy.  This time, as we waited, again, one of the girls was shouting down for her sister to move.  The grandfather said, “Just go.  They’ll move.”  HUH?????  Nice lesson to teach your grandchildren.  Now, maybe I’m too much of a push-over, but I really think the lesson that should have been taught is to walk to the side to let others enjoy a turn.  I really wanted to just go, take out a couple of the kids, and teach them the hard way, but I’m teaching my kids by example.

So we took 4 or 5 runs down the hill.  On the last run, Noah was with me, and we were waiting yet again, and he said, “This is annoying.”  You said it, kid!  At least he caught onto the importance of “sled-iquette.”  Check that lesson off of the list!

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