Crash on wheels

So, Crash had a skating party this weekend. He was excited. I lost my damn mind  My anxiety has been rearing its ugly, out-of-control head again, and the prospect of Crash being thrust into an unfamiliar social situation, doing something he has only done once before (and hated,) tripped off all sorts of crazy wires in my head. I imagined him hobbling around the rink, falling, being mocked, and then sitting on the sidelines as his classmates zoomed past him. Basically I imagined some sort of re-enactment of Carrie on wheels, with my kid as prom queen.

I ended up taking him to the rink the day before the party for practice and reconnaissance. I figured if the practice didn't take, he'd know where to go to play air hockey or Tekken. Hey, you know that lady with all her crap about free-range kids? I'm not her.

I remain amused at our local rink's ad campaign. They are trying to promote roller-skating as a wholesome family activity. "Remember when families played together? Remember a simpler time? Remember the seventies?"

Being quite unwholesome, my brain supplied more ad copy!

"Remember when neighbors were friendly? Remember key parties?"

"Remember when we all enjoyed nature? Remember Acapulco Gold? "

"Remember when we all left our doors unlocked? Remember Helter Skelter?"
Our practice day went pretty well, and I sent C. off to the party the next day without completely losing my shit. When I went to pick him up, I ventured into the cave of darkness and deafening sound and stumbled around until I found his friend's mom.

Just as I was greeting her, Mr. Cool glided by us and flipped up his hand in a casual wave. He kept skating. He's still slow, still clumsy, but still keeping at it.

His friend's mom said Crash had been having a great time . . . especially when two of his classmates -- girls -- took him by both hands to go around the rink with them.

"So he's milking this?" I asked.

"I'd say he's playing this," she said.

Just then I saw Crash take a huge tumble. A willowy girl came barreling up on her skates, and then executed a razor-sharp pivot right in front of Crash in order to give him a hand up. He kept skating  until the ugly lights came on and the DJ said they didn't have to go home but they couldn't stay there.

Things I need to remember: my kid is stronger than I give him credit for, and his classmates are kinder than I give them credit for.