Here is a proud dad moment when I taught my daughter to ice skate. As a former hockey player, this activity means more to me than most. My daughter, bundled up in her coat and helmet, was standing beside me, her eyes wide with excitement—and maybe a little bit of nervousness too. She’d always loved watching Disney on Ice, mesmerized by the graceful skaters who seemed to glide effortlessly across the ice. Her favorite is Frozen and is always asking to see Elsa.

As I was lacing up her skates I was taking in the smell of the ice rink. I spent most of my youth and early adulthood in rinks scattered throughout North America - the smell is extremely nastalgic. As I knelt down to tie her skates, I could tell she was excitedly nervous, but I did my best to give her a reassuring smile. “You ready?” I asked.

She looked up at me, hesitating just a bit and gave me a giant smile.

I took her hand and stepped onto the ice first, the familiar sensation of gliding coming back to me in an instant. I extended my hand to her. “Just like those skaters, we’ll go slow. We’ll have fun with it, okay?”

She nodded, holding onto my hand tightly as we took our first steps onto the ice. Her feet slid a little, and I could feel her tense up. She was definitely a little unsure, but I could also see the determination in her eyes. We took it slow, one step at a time. “You’re doing great,” I told her. “Just remember how Elsa did it.”

As we moved around the rink, I could see her getting more comfortable, gaining confidence with each little glide. Her face lit up as she finally found her rhythm. “I’m ice skating!” she giggled, and I couldn’t help but remember when my father taught me how to skate. It was watching life come full circle.

We must have done two or three laps before we took a brief break. She was lit up like a Christmas tree. I could see the excitement and after only a few minutes of rest we were back out on the ice learning to skate like Elsa.

As we headed off the ice, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was. The day wasn’t just about learning to skate. It was about creating memories, sharing experiences, and, of course, having a little fun along the way.

I started this blog to mainly share stories of all the wild and hilarious things my kids do, but it is also important to call out the moments that will last a lifetime. Just as I remember my dad teaching me how to skate and play hockey, I hope my daughter will remember this story and look back on it and smile.

Please share your special moments with your kids below.