Good Influences

As Margot gets older I'm trying to make a conscious effort to show her good role models. Glosette Girl is fab of course but there's only so much real estate in a kids mind that parents can occupy. Other sources of role models are her teachers, but I find that teachers seem to be in a special, almost infallible, category for kids. So they're good, but I like the idea of introducing Margot to young adults closer to her own age.

So what does that leave? Well some of her activities are taught by teenage or young adult instructors, which is good (especially her horseback riding instructors. Margot's eyes are full of stars when she thinks of them!) . Another alternative, that we discovered this weekend, are collegiate athletes.

Last Saturday was insanely cold and so while trying to think of a good indoor activity to do, we stumbled across the idea of going to see a Carleton Ravens women's hockey team game.

Even apart from letting Margot see what a group of high level female athletes can accomplish, there were a few cool things about the game. First, I'm a Carleton University alumnus so it was nice to support my alma mater. Second, the tickets were dirt cheap. $16 for the three of us, all in! The popcorn at the game was by donation. Finally, a plodding period in the middle notwithstanding, it was fun! The Carleton Ravens beat the Montreal Carabins in the second overtime on a sudden death goal. Even before the winning goal was scored, the small but feisty crowd was on the edge of their seats.

So far, Margot hasn't shown a keen interest in participating in organized sports. But what I liked about the Ravens event was all the camaraderie the girls' showed each other. They all banged their hockey sticks on the ice (a good thing) when their names were called on the loud speaker. They called out in support of each other when someone made a good move. They demonstrated teamwork, skill and coordination in overcoming an obstacle.

Celebrating the overtime winner!

Margot was skeptical about the event before we got to the game, but by the end she was as much into it as anyone there. This was actually the first ever collegiate sport game I've attended in my life, but I liked what I saw. Maybe we'll go see another game, in a different sport, soon. Basketball anyone?