stevenpiziks (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stevenpiziks) wrote2009-01-12 05:54 pm
stevenpiziks) wrote2009-01-12 05:54 pm
Entry tags:
Sleddin'
Once the blizzard cleared out, I elected to take the boys out sledding. The sled hill at the park we favor has two choices--a tall, steep hill which attracts older sledders, and a lower, gentler hill favored by small children.
Every year, Aran freaks at the sled hill and won't go down unless I'm on the sled with him, which rather defeats the idea of taking him sledding, especially since Mackie also wants me to sled with him. Quite often Aran will go down once with me, then flatly refuse to do it again. He wigs out if snow blows into his face or if the sled shows signs of spinning out or turning over--chaos is the most dreaded thing of all to an autie. Each year, I keep hoping he'll have matured a bit and outgrown this, and every year it never happens.
Same this year. Aran went down the hill once with me and absolutely refused to do it again, even though nothing went wrong. Mackie also didn't like going down the hill unless Sasha or I was in the sled with him. I like sledding, but it's difficult to sled and keep an eye on three kids all at the same time.
Finally, I announced that we were going to go over to the little kid hill. Aran showed signs of stubbornness, which I circumvented thanks to several years of experience at it. Mackie was fine with it, and Sasha was old enough to sled at whichever hill he liked. At the lower hill, Mackie was happy to go down on his own just behind the sled Aran and I shared.
And after that one trip, Aran was fine. He sledded the rest of the time perfectly well on his own, zipping down the hill and running back up, towing the sled behind him.
It was then that I worked out what the real problem was. Aran wasn't afraid of the height. He was afraid of the bumps.
Every year, the older kids (meaning teenagers) shovel ramps and bumps into the snow on the larger hill. Since these kids never think of anyone but themselves, they always put them smack in the middle of the main sled runs instead of off to the side. It's extremely easy to blunder into them, even when you don't to go anywhere near them--especially if your sled control is poor (like Aran's). Aran was mostly freaking at the idea of hitting the bumps. The lower hill didn't have any, so Aran was perfectly fine and had great fun.
Mackie also loved it. He tried a few runs on the saucer, and even wanted me to put a spin on it when I pushed him down the hill. Sasha alternated between the two hills, sometimes going down with Mackie.
Eventually they all got tired out and it was time for home and hot chocolate.
Every year, Aran freaks at the sled hill and won't go down unless I'm on the sled with him, which rather defeats the idea of taking him sledding, especially since Mackie also wants me to sled with him. Quite often Aran will go down once with me, then flatly refuse to do it again. He wigs out if snow blows into his face or if the sled shows signs of spinning out or turning over--chaos is the most dreaded thing of all to an autie. Each year, I keep hoping he'll have matured a bit and outgrown this, and every year it never happens.
Same this year. Aran went down the hill once with me and absolutely refused to do it again, even though nothing went wrong. Mackie also didn't like going down the hill unless Sasha or I was in the sled with him. I like sledding, but it's difficult to sled and keep an eye on three kids all at the same time.
Finally, I announced that we were going to go over to the little kid hill. Aran showed signs of stubbornness, which I circumvented thanks to several years of experience at it. Mackie was fine with it, and Sasha was old enough to sled at whichever hill he liked. At the lower hill, Mackie was happy to go down on his own just behind the sled Aran and I shared.
And after that one trip, Aran was fine. He sledded the rest of the time perfectly well on his own, zipping down the hill and running back up, towing the sled behind him.
It was then that I worked out what the real problem was. Aran wasn't afraid of the height. He was afraid of the bumps.
Every year, the older kids (meaning teenagers) shovel ramps and bumps into the snow on the larger hill. Since these kids never think of anyone but themselves, they always put them smack in the middle of the main sled runs instead of off to the side. It's extremely easy to blunder into them, even when you don't to go anywhere near them--especially if your sled control is poor (like Aran's). Aran was mostly freaking at the idea of hitting the bumps. The lower hill didn't have any, so Aran was perfectly fine and had great fun.
Mackie also loved it. He tried a few runs on the saucer, and even wanted me to put a spin on it when I pushed him down the hill. Sasha alternated between the two hills, sometimes going down with Mackie.
Eventually they all got tired out and it was time for home and hot chocolate.