Keeping My Balance So She Could Find Hers

Last week, I had a moment that reminded me how important it is to keep my own peace so I can help someone else find theirs. My daughter has always wanted to learn how to roller skate, and the opportunity finally came when we were at the park with a friend and her girls.

I got her skates on, snug and secure. But the second she stood up, the wheels rolled out from under her, and I could feel her anxiety rising — and mine, too. I caught myself thinking, why am I doing this? My partner, a former hockey player, would be the perfect teacher. But he was working. And me? I can skate a little… though I’m more than a bit rusty after fifteen years.

So, I stopped. Took a slow breath. And led her over to a bench. While she sat, I quickly looked up tips for teaching an eight-year-old to skate. One stood out: start on grass so she could find her balance first. We tried it — and it worked. We even practiced “penguin feet” to help her move more steadily.

After that, she braved the concrete. She fell several times, had a few tears, but kept getting back up. And by the end, she was skating on her own — wobbly but smiling.

Today, I came across this quote: “First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.” — Thomas Kempis.

It reminded me that teaching isn’t just about skills — it’s about keeping my balance so my daughter could discover hers. I’m proud of myself for staying calm, and even prouder of her for finding her own steadiness despite the falls and the tears. In skating and in life, it’s not the falling that defines you — it’s the rising.

ALD