Fatherhood anonymous; an open discussion on being a dad.

[Dromond]

Our girl is turning three so we picked up her first real skis tonight (season rentals) and she was beyond stoked. 70cm skis, size 14.5 boots, 0.75 DIN. Ready to rip. The excitement about learning to ski with us was amazing. We immediately warmed up with some carpet skiing at home. The tense moment was when we said she had to take the boots off and go to bed, which she was not cool with. The compromise was having her put a blanket over the skis in the living room and tucking them in for bed. She leaned down to give them a kiss and whispered “I love you, skis”

[rudy]

She leaned down to give them a kiss and whispered “I love you, skis”

That's funny shit right there!

[lowsparkco]

PSA that Madshus has the Snow Pup skis on sale right now for $30 - they are baby XC skis that have strap bindings to use with their snow boots. Great for kids who can walk up to about 3 or 4 when they can fit into downhill gear.

http://madshus.com

[SchralphMacchio]

Dude thanks for posting that. I’m not sure if my 3.5 year old is ready to make the jump from 70 cm strap skis to 100 cm XC skis with NNN boots. Might have to pick up those 85 cm strap skis as insurance against a meltdown.

[riser4]

And, learning to slide on snow with a loose heel teaches better balance.

[funkendrenchman]

Dude thanks for posting that. I’m not sure if my 3.5 year old is ready to make the jump from 70 cm strap skis to 100 cm XC skis with NNN boots. Might have to pick up those 85 cm strap skis as insurance against a meltdown.

If you're on real nordic trails, I highly recommend real nordic skis for a 3.5 year old. We had our kids on 91s.

[anotherVTskibum]

If you're on real nordic trails, I highly recommend real nordic skis for a 3.5 year old. We had our kids on 91s.

How do you know when to move up?

My kids are currently on the smallest Nordic ski Salomon makes (I think maybe 81, maybe 91) and I'm wondering if they need bigger skis for this year. I know they need bigger boots (per a sizer, they should still be able to get their feet into their Nordic boots, but even after loosening the laces I couldn't do it in a warm, well lit room, so I'm fairly confident it ain't happening in a dark parking lot).

FWIW, they are 3 and 4, and the four-year-old went from 70 to 80cm alpine skis last March, at the recommendation of ski school. Once she did, I could easily see that the bigger skis were working better, but I don't have the knowledge to judge Nordic skiing the same way.

[funkendrenchman]

How do you know when to move up?

My kids are currently on the smallest Nordic ski Salomon makes (I think maybe 81, maybe 91) and I'm wondering if they need bigger skis for this year. I know they need bigger boots (per a sizer, they should still be able to get their feet into their Nordic boots, but even after loosening the laces I couldn't do it in a warm, well lit room, so I'm fairly confident it ain't happening in a dark parking lot).

FWIW, they are 3 and 4, and the four-year-old went from 70 to 80cm alpine skis last March, at the recommendation of ski school. Once she did, I could easily see that the bigger skis were working better, but I don't have the knowledge to judge Nordic skiing the same way.

Look at their size chart. It's generally based on body weight due to the need to flex the ski.

https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/p...ml#color=79428

[lowsparkco]

Dude thanks for posting that. I’m not sure if my 3.5 year old is ready to make the jump from 70 cm strap skis to 100 cm XC skis with NNN boots. Might have to pick up those 85 cm strap skis as insurance against a meltdown.

You want to trade the 70's for these 85's?

I should probably start shorter. I didn't even realize that they made different sizes in the strap skis.

[anotherVTskibum]

Look at their size chart. It's generally based on body weight due to the need to flex the ski.

https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/p...ml#color=79428

I've seen the chart, but the first three sizes overlap substantially:

5 - 15 kg: 91cm
5 - 20 kg: 101cm
15 - 25 kg: 111cm

So at 15kg (33 pounds), any of those three sizes would be appropriate per the chart. Common sense says that 15kg kid should probably be on a 101, barring truly exceptional high or low strength.

But my kids are currently 34 and 37 pounds, so they probably should be on at least the 101 (okay, they do need new skis), but should I go to 111? The 34-pound three-year-old is generally pretty athletic (climbing on and jumping off just about everything), and will hopefully get a fair bit of time on alpine skis this winter. The four-year-old got a decent amount of time on snow last winter, so I'd lean towards the 111cm for her but that seems like a big jump.

[funkendrenchman]

Our 35 lb 4.5 yo was on 111s last year. At 3.5 I’d go for 101. Easier to learn to duck walk uphill.

[SchralphMacchio]

I’m gonna put my 6 year old 40 lbs girl on 110 cm XC and 90 cm alpine this year, and my 3.5 year old 36 lbs boy on 100 cm XC and 80 cm alpine. If the boy complains about the XC skis, well he also has a FirstBike skibike he can use, and I just bought a whitewater tube I’m gonna try on our tubing course as well.

Lowspark, you can have the 70s, no need for a trade, though man I’m like never in Bend. Always at the Doo, heading to WP for a day trip tomorrow. Let’s PM, I can also mail them if needed. I’m gonna pass on the 85s just because I already have so many other freaking gear options for the boy.

[anotherVTskibum]

Thanks for the feedback. I expect they'll both be on 80cm alpine skis this year, although the 3-year-old will start on his 70s, hopefully he'll be able to do lessons with daycare.

[Dromond]

Does anyone have recommendations for ski/winter eyewear for a small kid? At three and a little small for her age, goggles just don’t seem to fit my daughter yet. She has a Smith Glide Jr. helmet which fits ok but the matching goggles just don’t work at all. They end up smooshed over her eyes. Wide-coverage sunglasses might work better but I haven’t found those in such a small size yet. This is for playing in the snow and a little skiing.

[anotherVTskibum]

Does anyone have recommendations for ski/winter eyewear for a small kid? At three and a little small for her age, goggles just don’t seem to fit my daughter yet. She has a Smith Glide Jr. helmet which fits ok but the matching goggles just don’t work at all. They end up smooshed over her eyes. Wide-coverage sunglasses might work better but I haven’t found those in such a small size yet. This is for playing in the snow and a little skiing.

My kids have Pit Vipers. They seem to work reasonably well aside from the usual issue that kids can't keep their fingers away from their lenses and then get annoyed they can't see through them.

[Dromond]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]]]My kids have Pit Vipers. They seem to work reasonably well aside from the usual issue that kids can't keep their fingers away from their lenses and then get annoyed they can't see through them.

I assume those must be the kid size with the actual arms and not the ones with the strap. What age did they start using them? I’m worried they are going to be too big right now.

[anotherVTskibum]

I assume those must be the kid size with the actual arms and not the ones with the strap. What age did they start using them? I’m worried they are going to be too big right now.

Attached photo is my three-year-old; glasses are decidedly big, but not unmanageably so. They do have normal arms. Not sure about model details beyond that and what you can see in the photo.

[ghosthop]

When my son was younger he used Julbo Loops. He never quite got along with the arms but they stayed put and I was impressed with the lens quality.

He currently uses no-name wrap arounds from Amazon. We found them on the sidewalk and he loves them. YMMV but I preferred the soft arms when dealing with a toddler and a helmet.

[The Reverend Floater]

You guys ever have those days where you’re just too fucking tired to be a decent dad? No reason in particular but you just don’t have it in you and maybe you go outside to get wood and stand by the woodpile for 20 minutes wondering WTF happened to my life?

Asking for a friend.


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[Danno]

You guys ever have those days where you’re just too fucking tired to be a decent dad? No reason in particular but you just don’t have it in you and maybe you go outside to get wood and stand by the woodpile for 20 minutes wondering WTF happened to my life?

Asking for a friend.

Of course.

Divorce helped a lot for me, lol. It's easier to cope during those times when I know I have a week off coming up.

Parenting a teenager is less demanding in many ways but way more infuriating in other ways.

[TahoeJ]

You guys ever have those days where you’re just too fucking tired to be a decent dad? No reason in particular but you just don’t have it in you and maybe you go outside to get wood and stand by the woodpile for 20 minutes wondering WTF happened to my life?

Asking for a friend.


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You’re likely a much better dad than you give yourself credit for. The standards placed on both moms and dads over the past 20 or so years compared to previous generations are honestly a little ridiculous.

[gaijin]

You guys ever have those days where you’re just too fucking tired to be a decent dad? No reason in particular but you just don’t have it in you and maybe you go outside to get wood and stand by the woodpile for 20 minutes wondering WTF happened to my life?

Asking for a friend.

Yes. But I turned to alcohol and that was a mistake. Don't do that. Now I just tell them I'm going to the gym, or just a walk. "If I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of you." My wife and I also have gym-date night 1-2x a week. That's been nearly cathartic. But honestly, it took 15 years, until my youngest turned 9, that we felt comfortable leaving them alone for dinner... or, maybe it just took us that long to learn to take care of ourselves.

And as a doctor once told my mom-- "If you're worried you're not being a good mom, then you're being a good mom."

[alias_rice]

You guys ever have those days where you’re just too fucking tired to be a decent dad? No reason in particular but you just don’t have it in you and maybe you go outside to get wood and stand by the woodpile for 20 minutes wondering WTF happened to my life?

Asking for a friend.


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Raising kids is the most rewarding thing in my life, but it sure ain’t easy. Plenty of days where the best you can do is survive and hope you don’t screw things up too badly.

[californiagrown]

You guys ever have those days where you’re just too fucking tired to be a decent dad? No reason in particular but you just don’t have it in you and maybe you go outside to get wood and stand by the woodpile for 20 minutes wondering WTF happened to my life?

Asking for a friend.


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This past Sunday, after 3 straight days filled fully with inlaws, activities and events, my wife came down with food poisoning. I threw in the towel on being a good dad, gave my 3yr old a tablet, and we just laid on the couch under a blanket all day while I watched football and he watched paw patrol. Even took our nap on that couch with the game on mute. It was glorious.


Sometimes you just need a break.

[Dromond]

This past Sunday, after 3 straight days filled fully with inlaws, activities and events, my wife came down with food poisoning. I threw in the towel on being a good dad, gave my 3yr old a tablet, and we just laid on the couch under a blanket all day while I watched football and he watched paw patrol. Even took our nap on that couch with the game on mute. It was glorious.


Sometimes you just need a break.

I had to do some of this the other day on a workday when we had no childcare unexpectedly. The one problem I found was my 3yr behaved quite badly after the (very rare) tablet cartoon binge session. Going back to the real world from a soothing show watching zombie state can be a harsh withdrawal!