Summer fun activity #19
(The number is random)
However, today we (not me) went climbing at a local sports centre. Smallsteps has been here before, but it was the first time for us and while I wasn't climbing today, I bought a 3x card for both Smallsteps and myself that has to be used in the next 6 weeks, so will be up that wall next time.
We have been climbing together on a couple other occasions at another place where it is more aimed at kids, but this place was more "serious" in terms of the walls, which were all proper climbing walls, with bouldering as well.
While I wasn't climbing, I was full of (unwanted) advice and the amount of times I heard "you do it then" come out of their mouths was incredible. For the record, I have climbed many times before and while I am no pro, I do have a few tips that might be useful to try like, use your legs.
Smallsteps was smashing it.
After a reserved start, I convinced her to give the negative walls a go, where they go past vertical. And while she was dubious to begin with, she quickly got into it and was plotting her path, thinking through which way to go, taking backsteps to take a different approach and a times, just hanging freely, which she was calling a "rest" stop.
That wouldn't be a rest for me.
But she rounded a corner onto a second wall and path and then got up to the top, which made her pretty happy. She was annoyed at first that I was saying on some of them "why didn't you keep going?" because she felt I was only happy when she got to the top. But I told her that is not the case at all - I am happy when she tries. Sometimes she gives in a little too early, knowing she can go a bit further.
Once she started putting in that little bit more grit, she started to enjoy the climb more also, because it was a challenge to get those few higher. And she is pretty agile once she gets going and brave enough to make some leaps for holds that are out of her reach. Being short and petite is an advantage in getting up, but so too is having a long reach, which she doesn't have.
But they both had fun climbing and we will go again when I am more up for it. At least, Smallsteps and I will make a few more trips there to use our passes.
And since it poured down all day, this was a positive activity to get out of the house and be active, without having to get cold and wet. Of course, while I didn't climb the activity level for me was pretty low, but I went to the gym once we got home again to make up for it. And anyway, tomorrow it is prepping for painting the basement floor - and I will likely be doing that work alone.
We all have our walls to climb.
Or floor.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Be part of the Hive discussion.
- Comment on the topics of the article, and add your perspectives and experiences.
- Read and discuss with others who comment and build your personal network
- Engage well with me and others and put in effort
And you may be rewarded.
Cool pictures! Our daughter is also very reserved to begin some new activity, but when she gets into it she gets more brave as things progress. I think that is just how kids work :)
Yeah, I think it is natural. Smallsteps has climbed a few times, but always needs a bit of an egg-on to push more. I think she could be a decent climber if she practiced.
What is your daughter's favourite activities?
The only physical activity she really loves is swimming. Otherwise she is really into painting.
Swimming is great for kids (and adults) I wish I was better at it. Does she paint anything in particular or whatever for now?
She tends to like painting landscapes and fish as well as underwear tropical stuff as well as some abstract art.
Looks like they had a lot of fun! I don't think I would be able to make it more than a couple feet up the wall. I do like the idea of being harnessed in.
Any additional weight is definitely a negative.
It is good. The first time I ever tried required a spotter to support the rope and you had to trust they would catch you. The automated system is better :D
The advantage of being more cautious and timid when climbing is that you don't do stupid things like jump over the annoying overhang that's in your way, the belayers don't like that very much XD
this was in the days before auto-belay at least at the centre we went to, it took me a good bit to realise that's what all the screaming below me was about as at the time I was focused on dealing with the problem and while I did notice the rope had gone a bit slack after the jump it didn't enter my meagre brain that maybe that could be a problem x_x I don't know how auto-belays respond as I've only been climbing with them a couple of times since and didn't need to jump
Glad they had fun climbing. How did the floor painting go? :)
Yeah, that was when I first tried too. You need to trust someone - not a fan ;D
They seem to do a pretty good job. Reacts faster than I would probably :D
Oh, that hasn't started yet. Have to organise the basement first, get paint, do the work. It is a project that will span a few weeks.
I was actually more scared as the belayer because I figured I could hang on (I was somewhat decent at climbing back in the day) but I wasn't sure about some of my friends XD
I was studying them when my kids were at a trampoline park that also had rock climbing walls and they sound kind of lilke a seatbelt so I figured they functioned similarly XD
Ahh for whatever reason I thought you were already up to the painting stage. The fun of multiweek projects. I'm kind of waiting for the ground to dry out a bit more so I can start thinking about starting the gravel path but there might be more rain coming.
I briefly ran a small climbing wall at a theme park cough years ago, and I can absolutely second the advice to use your legs to lift yourself. My left lower limb of locomotion has gotten a workout while my ankle recovers. I'd rather do something with a rapel as a reward, but ascending stairs is workout enough for now.
Rappelling is fun! Only tried a couple times, but it was a great feeling.
You have done quite an eclectic range of things :)
It's just a great activity for kids if she gets into it - cheap wknds away - camper van, the gear doesn't cost that much, a few decent rocks, of course I guess you've only really got a 4 month outdoor season in Finland? Still good though! Climbers tend be pretty chilled too, it's a remarkably ponderous activity, planning your routes and all.
two comfortable months. Outdoor is all year round, but it definitely requires specialised (expensive) gear.
Yeah, I think so too. I wonder what it is? Perhaps the facing death often enough.
Sounds and looks like a great family time. Next thing you know she will be climbing Mt. Everest in a few years. :) Seriously, that is a great activity and so good not only physically, but for problem solving as well. Never been climbing like that, but known some climbers. It is not just a phyical thing as you kind of point out. Lots of mental activity goes into it that people don't realize.
Good luck with the floor. Cleaning my garage is on hold due to the heat right now.
Along with the other million CEOs! It gets crowded up there now -isn't that crazy?
I was watching an experienced person doing the bouldering thing - it looked pretty intense.
Rainy days here are perfect for it :)
For some reason this post made me think about some cooking show I saw quite recently. participants there were tasked with making a cake...antigravitacional cake. I have no idea how those cakes tasted but I was surprised how they looked. People can be very creative...And increbile really.
when they are not trying to destroy this planet.Some of the cooking these days is incredible. I don't know how they come up with some of the stuff they do, let alone create it.
Smallsteps seems to have taken on that challenge with courage, and nice to see her figuring out her own strategies. It sounds like a great bonding experience as well ;)
Bonding between mother and daughter, against father.
climbing is such a perfect metaphor for life
As is falling :)
Congratulations @tarazkp! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 80000 comments.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
Thanks