“So do you want to purchase a pair of skates?”
My spouse – S — is asking me this question in Prisma, a megastore that could best be described as a cross between a Super Target and Walmart. We had walked a half hour at -12C to get the kids sleds, and also decided to pick up skates for the kids (we were told they would need it for school at times).
On the walk to Prisma. While it looks like early morning, it is 10 AM. 
Almost there.
But the real question is whether or not I would want a pair.
A confession: I don’t know how to skate. I grew up on Lake Vermilion, tried skating 2 or 3 times – didn’t really like it. (In college walking back to the dorms – finishing graduate school applications NOT partying — I slipped on ice late one night, followed by knee surgery a week later. Those formative experiences probably have a more than unhealthy fear of ice. But I think a little pagophobia is a little justified.
So, when in Finland ….
Later that night I got to try them out. I went with the kids to a hockey rink about a 5 minute walk from our house (nearby their school). Thankfully no-one else was on the rink, it was just me and my kids.
I could describe those first few minutes on the ice, but perhaps this would better:
This was not going well.
But as I was shuffling along my kids were spinning circles around me. How did they get so good? They have my genes! All three of them came over and said “We will teach you how to stake dad! Just follow us. Your first lesson is Push, push, glide. You can do this!” I do remember teaching them that the time I took them to the rink, but just wore my boots because I was too scared to skate.
Skating pros. 
And so they gave me gentle encouragement, taught me how to improve my form, and were cheerleaders the whole way. It was a rare moment of unity and graciousness for my kids, and perhaps a turn of the tables. That realization was caused me stop (and almost fall flat on my face). With this trip we are asking so much of our kids – living in a country where they don’t speak any of the language, attend a school where they are complete outsiders, and force them to be away from all that is familiar for six months. Too often the power dynamics with children are unidirectional and asymmetrical, so having them see me as vulnerable (and willing for them to be the teacher while I am taught) is a valuable lesson. My heart was filled with pride.
I finished my kids’ “Beginner” lesson (my grades were an A+, A+, and an A; tough crowd), and I needed to practice for my “Expert” lesson.
I first went skating four days ago; each night we go out skating. I am seeing some improvement – undoubtedly I won’t qualify for Beijing 2022, but in my mind my kids are all medal winners.
P.S. You can also follow adventures along on my spouse’s blog: https://shannonofthezteam.tumblr.com/ (A lot of the pictures were taken from there. 🙂 ).