Going Skiing

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I had an issue with my computer and had to send it into a repair shop, leaving me without a computer for a couple weeks. It is amazing how often I use the computer in just one day. I don't know how I functioned before a computer and high speed internet.

Connor went to a ski camp a year ago that specializes in working with children with autism. He really took to it and was zooming down the mountain in no time. Since then it has been difficult to find time to take him skiing again. We have actually had quite a good amount of snow (powder) on the slopes this year and I wanted to take advantage of it.



Connor doesn't do well when competing in team sports, so I haven't put him in any team sports like soccer or t-ball, but I didn't want to keep him from athletics as a whole. I decided to go with his strengths and focus on individual sports. In the summer Connor takes swimming lessons and continues to get stronger and more coordinated. After we leave swimming lessons I always tell people that I think Connor is going to be the next Michael Phelps. I know that is just a proud mama talking, but it wasn't long ago that Connor couldn't stand for long periods of time without falling from poor muscle strength. Now he is fairly coordinated and even though he is still very skinny, he is actually pretty strong.

Connor took right to the slopes. He loves being outdoors. He would rather ski all day with no break than anything else. I had a hard time keeping up with his pace and even his speed. He had no fear. He went pretty much straight down the mountain. I had to remind him to make an "S" and use the whole width of the mountain, but he wanted to stay up with his snowboarding dad.

Sometimes I underestimate my kids. I think that you have to be older and more experienced to do things when in reality they are more able and less fearful to do something new than most adults. When I see Connor skiing, or swimming, or body surfing, I know that as an adult he is going to be an outdoor guy who loves to be active. Maybe if his conversation skills aren't the best, he will still make friends with other people that also like to be outdoors and active.