"View from the Parent Lounge" is a reflection on life as the parent of a skateboarder, typed mostly while waiting for him to skate at various skateparks, indoor and outdoor, throughout the country.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Skateboarding Shutdown
Okay, technically, skateboarding has not been shut down. But in the aftermath of Hurrican Irene, we have no power, no water, and no easy Internet access. I'm preserving I-phone usage for important texts and updates on local conditions (like the welcome news that the nearest Starbucks re-opened this morning). Once power is fully restored I will post photos and an update from our trip to see the Streetleague finals in New Jersey.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Stupid Is as Stupid Does!
I was enjoying my last few days of kid-free summer. No worries. No hanging out in parent lounges. Sk8terdad and I stopped at the mall and he ran inside to pick something up. Knowing he would be right out (the item he needed was in the first store inside the door), I waited in the car, thinking I could relax for a few minutes.
Suddenly I heard a loud rumble and some shouts - and I saw this:
It's dumb stunts like this that give skateboarders a bad reputation. Seriously. This video (with apologies for the quality, but there's only so much you can do in a parking garage) was taken in the middle of a very busy afternoon at the local mall.
These two idiots raced down all the levels of the garage, over and over. (I shot the video the second time they rolled by.) The turns are tight and blind for drivers. And I would point out that they aren't even wearing helmets but, really, a helmet won't matter much when they get hit by a car.
Where is mall security??? And what were these two drinking when they decided this was a good idea?
Yes, I called security.
I hope Sk8terdude is never dumb enough to try something like this but, if he is, I hope there's a mom (or someone) in the parking lot who cares enough to take action.
Sometimes it's not enough to "lounge."
Suddenly I heard a loud rumble and some shouts - and I saw this:
It's dumb stunts like this that give skateboarders a bad reputation. Seriously. This video (with apologies for the quality, but there's only so much you can do in a parking garage) was taken in the middle of a very busy afternoon at the local mall.
These two idiots raced down all the levels of the garage, over and over. (I shot the video the second time they rolled by.) The turns are tight and blind for drivers. And I would point out that they aren't even wearing helmets but, really, a helmet won't matter much when they get hit by a car.
Where is mall security??? And what were these two drinking when they decided this was a good idea?
Yes, I called security.
I hope Sk8terdude is never dumb enough to try something like this but, if he is, I hope there's a mom (or someone) in the parking lot who cares enough to take action.
Sometimes it's not enough to "lounge."
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Virtual Parent Lounge
Sk8terdad and I have been in a virtual parent lounge for the last few weeks and we've been - well - lounging around. Sk8terdude and OlderBrother are both at sleepaway camp, so we've been keeping an eye on them via the internet, where camp photos are posted each day for our viewing pleasure.
It's a parent lounge of a different sort...and we couldn't be enjoying it more if we tried. For starters, I'm sure I haven't stepped foot in the kitchen since the boys left. And if either of the boys has a rough moment - trouble with a friend, a minor injury, etc. - by the time we know about it, typically it has long since been resolved, since they are not the most prolific letter writers and "news" tends to arrive about a week after it happens. And although the camp allows them to email home once a week, OlderBrother has only availed himself of the opportunity two or three times since the end of June, and Sk8terdude claims to have sent two emails, neither of which actually arrived in my inbox (he probably typed the address wrong).
We do know that Sk8terdude switched out his deck on the first day, after his luggage spent an hour or so sitting out in the rain while they assigned bunks. He claims the grip tape was ruined. Hmmm....and apparently his old deck is now hanging up in the skate shack for decoration.
The camp does have a small skate park, which is where OlderBrother originally learned to skate. And any day now we expect to see photos from the annual camp skate competition. We won't be at all surprised if Sk8terdude is the camp skate counselor some day. In the meantime, we couldn't be happier lounging at home, watching the two of them enjoy their summer.
It's a parent lounge of a different sort...and we couldn't be enjoying it more if we tried. For starters, I'm sure I haven't stepped foot in the kitchen since the boys left. And if either of the boys has a rough moment - trouble with a friend, a minor injury, etc. - by the time we know about it, typically it has long since been resolved, since they are not the most prolific letter writers and "news" tends to arrive about a week after it happens. And although the camp allows them to email home once a week, OlderBrother has only availed himself of the opportunity two or three times since the end of June, and Sk8terdude claims to have sent two emails, neither of which actually arrived in my inbox (he probably typed the address wrong).
We do know that Sk8terdude switched out his deck on the first day, after his luggage spent an hour or so sitting out in the rain while they assigned bunks. He claims the grip tape was ruined. Hmmm....and apparently his old deck is now hanging up in the skate shack for decoration.
The camp does have a small skate park, which is where OlderBrother originally learned to skate. And any day now we expect to see photos from the annual camp skate competition. We won't be at all surprised if Sk8terdude is the camp skate counselor some day. In the meantime, we couldn't be happier lounging at home, watching the two of them enjoy their summer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)