True confessions: this is what I’ve been doing in all my spare time!
For the past six months, once a week, I’ve been going over to the local rink to learn ice hockey. This is what I’ve learned: when I’m on the ice, nothing else matters. It’s that much fun. Really.
I was a little annoyed that the Today Show framed this story in terms of how the “new” hockey moms (i.e., stay-at-home and work-from-home moms) are no longer holding the hot chocolate but holding hockey sticks instead. For one thing, there are plenty of women who are not moms who play (a point I made when they interviewed me), and for another, no one asked me what I do when I’m not on the ice.
Despite the rather conventional picture of motherhood that emerges, it’s great to have the media spotlight on women’s sports. The other women I play with are truly amazing. And our coach—she’s certified by Laura Stamm (which means something to hockey buffs: I tested it out on my husband), and she’s phenomenal. Every week I skate out onto the ice, I can do something I couldn’t the week before. And since I grew up in the middle of the country, where the buffalo roamed but frozen ponds were few and far between, I’ve never been a skater. Until now.
I’ve been thinking about what it means to take up ice hockey when you’re forty-something and can barely skate forwards, let alone backwards (midlife crisis, anyone?) by starting a Tumblr log, “The Other Hockey Mom: Midlife Musings on Work & Play, Gender, and Parenting.” I’m writing about the challenge of taking up hockey, the joy of watching my seven-year-old daughter play (she’s one of three girls out of 35 boys), and the anxiety about some of the darker aspects of the sport, like my husband’s recent concussion. Still playing around with the blog, but come visit.
Comments
Adina Nack — February 28, 2011
Inspiring post for this midlife mom! Your description of the adventure and challenge of ice hockey makes it sound like a lot of fun :-) I also wonder if there's something to the idea that raising strong daughters who take part in traditionally masculine sports can inspire us Gen X moms to try these sports. My almost-7-year-old daughter has earned her yellow belt in Shotokan Karate, and she wants me to start taking classes so we can practice together. When my work schedule lightens up this summer, I will start taking classes -- I'm willing to risk the bruises, sprains, and strains that might come along with my new adventure.
On your note about media bias: I agree with you -- it's unfortunate, though not surprising, that the media chose to play up the double-meaning of "hockey moms" when not all of the players are moms. It makes for a good sound bite, though it does not do justice the variety of women who are on the ice.