What I Learned From our First Family Ski Vacation

Blackjack Ski Resort - Feb 2010

1. John J. is a wonderful ski instructor. I learned more from him in 2 trips down the hill than I did in 2 excruciating hours of ski school.

2. Ski school is great for kids but pure hell for those of us who lack the patience to ‘step and glide…step and glide’. There is no ‘step and glide’ going down the hill…it’s more of a ‘lean forward and pray’ action.

3. Just because it’s called the ‘bunny hill’ doesn’t mean it’s easy.

4. Falling isn’t so bad. Especially if you have someone there to laugh with you (Thanks Kurt!) and someone there to help you back up (Thanks Stacey!).

5. Being a control freak and skiing do not go well together. I must let go of the need to control…because when I’m up at the top of the hill looking down, I know I have truly given up all control. Many Hail Mary’s and the good grace of John J. saved my sanity and likely my life.

6. My boys amaze me.

– Alex took to the sport like he was born on skis. He attacked the hills with grace and control that I didn’t realize he possessed.

– I expected Aiden to give up on the first day. Instead, he approached the bunny hill (and the tow rope) with unwavering tenacity. I’m sure he’s been up and down that hill hundreds of times over the past three days and would likely go a hundred more times if we stayed longer. I’m glad he finally gathered the courage to tackle and conquer the lift and the ‘big hill’ with his dad.

– William, who declared leading up to the trip, that he did not need ski school because 8 year old Jakob R. already told him how to do it and he watched it on TV once, was humbled a bit. But instead of giving up, he poured all of his energy and emotion into learning how to ski. I think he fell down on 90% of his runs but it never, ever stopped him from going back up one more time.

7. My husband amazes me! I expected him to stick to the snowmobiles and leave the skiing to me. Oh how wrong I was!

8. Watching my family ski is just as fulfilling as doing it myself. I’m glad they’re getting the opportunity to learn when they’re young.

9. But I’ll always wish I would have gone down that hill just one more time.

10. Good friends are worth more than gold. I will be forever grateful to them for inviting our family along on big, crazy trips like these. The memories made with old and new friends are priceless.