Surprise on the slopes 2: Keeping up with brother

March 3, 2011 (WPVI) -- Last week in my Parenting Perspective, I wrote about the joy of skiing with my five-year-old son for the first time. This past weekend, the fun doubled when my three-year-old daughter, Emma, joined us on the slopes.

I was secretly hoping Emma would want to ski, but I knew it had to be her idea. So, all last week, I complemented Luke on his great skiing ability and talked about how excited I was to ski with him again. "Emma, you can stay with the babysitter, while we have fun skiing, if you want," I kept telling Emma. Finally, last Friday night, Emma proclaimed that she wanted to ski as well.

Unlike Luke, who wanted to ski on his own after a couple runs, I kept Emma close to me at all times. A three-year-old typically doesn't have the same coordination as a five-year-old, so I skied with Emma in between my legs and used the trusty nylon rope across her chest method to keep us together. I was a bit apprehensive about taking her up on the lift, but with a little assistance from me, Emma didn't have any trouble at all. The first chair lift ride, Emma announced, "Mommy, this is SO much fun!" Every time we skied down the lift ramp or picked up speed on the slopes, Emma yelled out a happy "wheeeee."

While Luke is determined to ski all day, we realized Emma's time on the slopes was more limited. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) suggests, "Make sure your child knows when to stop skiing. For example, if the clothing layer next to their skin stays wet and they're chilled, if they're injured, have a problem with equipment or even if they're simply worn out. Educate them that it's alright to stop before the end of the day and breaks are fun."

Part of what made the day so enjoyable is that we were prepared. Both kids had helmets on and were dressed in layers. "Layering allows you to accommodate your body's constantly changing temperature. For example, dress your kids in polypropylene underwear (top and bottoms) which feels good next to the skin, dries quickly, absorbs sweat and keeps you warm. Your kids should also wear a turtleneck, sweater and waterproof jacket", says the NSAA. I brought along spare socks and gloves, since they tend to get sweaty and packed a big lunch with plenty of drinks and snacks.

After nearly three hours from skiing, we took a lunch break in which both Emma and Luke ate an enormous quantity of food (skiing sure makes you hungry!) Emma told us she was done, so Greg took her home to play Candyland. She fell asleep in the car immediately. Luke skied with me until the lifts shutdown. We're hoping to get in just one more Pocono ski trip before the resorts close for the season. This is the first year that I am a bit sad that winter is ending. Luke and Emma say they can't wait until next season. I think Greg and I are even more excited.

Happy parenting! Cecily

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