One of the greatest experience as a parent is the experience of firsts. The first solid food. The first smile. The first crawl. The first step. The first word. You get the idea.
For a Canadian parent, one of the greatest firsts happens with two strips of steel and some frozen water.
For my oldest son, that day was in December, 2009. A few weeks before the Olympics came to Vancouver and there was a public rink at Robson Square. Outdoor ice in Vancouver doesn't happen very often so I took the chance to take my 30-month-old son out on the ice for the very first time.
He loved it. He didn't want to come off the ice. He didn't want to take a break, despite the fact my back was about to from huddling over and trying to hold him up.
As the snow is falling and the ponds are freezing on the Canadian prairies, I'm reminded my son has outgrown his helmet and skates and it's time to get another bag of gear.
He's 4 1/2 now, only 13 more years until the NHL draft. Between then and now there will be first lost teeth. First phones. First report cards. First cars. First dates. And more.
What firsts are your kids going through right now?
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