Out to the pond..

Tough love and ice

from JoeUser Forums

Our neighborhood pond is frozen over and so I decided to take my sons out to see it.  The oldest just turned 8 and it was quite a treat for him. 

The 4 year old, however, had a melt down because he couldn't get his gloves on just the way he wanted. After repreated attempts to help get his gloves on he had had enough and refused to try any more. But he wouldn't go outside without them.  Do I live the 4 year old in the house by himself to take the bigger one over to the pond or have us all stay in the house because the 4 year old is having a melt down?

I decided to leave him alone and let him cry it out. The pond is very close to the house and the 4 year old needs to learn that he can't always have his way. So we went out and played on the ice for a few minutes after making sure it was safe (the pond is only 2 foot deep anyway).  Another week of this kind of weather and I'll get the hockey sticks out. 

Hopefully by then the 4 year old will have more patience in putting on his gloves. ;)

2,646 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Brad,
I am a preschool teacher who has to deal with a room full of children trying to put their winter gloves on all at the same time! The answer? Get him mittens! Something he'll love (he should pick them out!! Maybe some mittens with little Wincustomize froggies on them? Heh! Just a suggestion! Good luck!

Donna
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
These were mittens actually.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

the first thing that came to mind while seein yall headed to the pond while reading that was a time when i guess i was maybe 10 or 11.  it was after christmas cuz we were still outta school so me and a friend hiked a couple miles to what was then (and may stilll be) known as penn woods--prolly cuz it was near the intersection of fort st and pennsylvania road somewhere due south of southgate.  in any event, it was a sizeable piece of forested land in the middle of which as a pond.  the ice seemed sufficiently thick...until we were maybe 10-15' from the bank.  by the time we heard the big CRACK, wed both gone thru the ice.  it took about a minute before we were able to pull ourselves out.  by the time we were back on the bank, we were already beginning to freeze our asses off. we hadda walk outta there (like at least 5-8 minutes of fast walking) and another five minutes to reach the gas station where we spent about a half hour shivering uncontrollably til someone could pick us up.

while im sure you wouldnt have ventured out on the ice if it wasnt safe...and despite the shallow depth of your pond...knowing what i know now, i woulda stayed home with your youngest son.  except for the short time i spent in milwaukee while refitting ore boat engines in february, that was easily the coldest ive ever been--and one of the reasons im very glad to be living in southern california where our current cold snap has been producing nighttime lows of at least 48f.