Dropping In, Would You Like a Cup of Tea?
August 19, 2009
My boys have been begging me to bring them to the skate park for awhile. So yesterday I decided to bring them and one of their friends.
Because 100 degree sunny weather, a gigantic reflective surface, and skateboards go perfect together. If you are a boy. Or the one overly enthusiastic grown man wearing full body protective gear. For those of you who have ever watched The Office, imagine Michael Scott in full protective gear at a skate park and you will have the perfect visual image of this guy. I felt like I should slip him a valium.
The skating area is much larger and steeper than I had imagined. I stood on the edge of the bowl and looked down and felt a little bit of vertigo. Along with that feeling that my body was just going to jump, completely out of my control.
My 8 yr old told me that when you balance your skateboard on the edge and then tip and go over the side that it is called “dropping in.” I think that makes it seem way more civilized than it really is. I can’t help but think that the term was invented by some kid telling his mother was he was doing on his skateboard. Because skating over the edge of a 12 foot straight drop does not have the same ring to it.
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I get vertigo just standing on a dock looking at water 5-10ft down. WATER.
Anyhoot, not to sound prissy or anything, but… uh… Around here, the skate parks require helmets. Is that not so in Texas? I would so want a helmet if I were ever crazy enough to do something like that.
Plus, I’d hate to see a repeat of the minor concussion from last year that kept one of your son’s from doing such ’straining’ tasks as math or housework ;o)
August 19th, 2009 at 9:24 amYeah, that’s where we’re headed today. In the blazing sun. To attempt to kill themselves while throwing themselves over cliffs on a moving board. Fun!
August 19th, 2009 at 9:28 amI have no problem taking a ride in a hot air balloon but the thought of “dropping in” on a skate board and maybe breaking something just make my knees weak.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:30 amOMG, no helmets or pads, now you’re gonna hear it again!
August 19th, 2009 at 9:59 amMy son was a boarder, too — and I know that feeling of looking over the side and … wanting to jump? roll down the hill? Weird. Love to watch the kids in action at the skatepark — their faces a mixture of pure joy and intense concentration. Have fun! (at least its not football, right?)
August 19th, 2009 at 10:16 amBoys are fearless. I don’t know if I could do it but if I ever have a son I think I might be tempted to try.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:42 amYou win Best Mom Evah! (My kids are going to one of those over my dead body…and I’m considered the “permissive” parent around here!)
August 19th, 2009 at 10:46 amOOOhhhhh… I can’t wait to see all the “OMGwhereisalltheirprotectivegear, theycouldfallandsplittheirheadlikeamellon!!!” smacktalk you’re gonna get because of this post. Jeeeze, Chris… why don’t you give them beer, matches, knives and drop them in the middle of the interstate while you’re at it…
August 19th, 2009 at 10:57 am(Can you tell I have been taken to task over similar offenses?) Looks like y’all are having a great summer and probably like ours, it’s over way too soon…
Cool beans!
August 19th, 2009 at 11:13 amOh my goodness! My boys are now 5 and 6 and I can’t imagine sitting there, watching them “drop in.” You are one cool mom! I absolutely LOVE the first picture with all the kids at the “rim.”
August 19th, 2009 at 11:17 amYou post these pictures without helmets just to get the internets riled up, don’t you?
Chris says: To be honest it did not even occur to me. Though now I am thinking of it as a nice little unexpected bonus
August 19th, 2009 at 11:33 amWanna take bets on how many ‘no helmet/no pads’ comments you get?
August 19th, 2009 at 11:44 amI can’t tell you the anxiety I felt when I started reading this entry. After scrolling down quickly, I was relieved to see it ended with no broken bones or blood. This also explains why my kids still have training wheels. I’ve gotta up my ‘brave mommy’ quotient.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:48 amYou realize you’ve set yourself up for attacks from the Safety Patrol again, right? “Where’s the helmets and pads?” wah wah wah. (although I assume you are immune to it by now)
August 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pmBTW, what camera do you use again? I’m in the market, and you and your camera take the most beautiful photos…
Wow, your one son has rollerblades on, doesn’t he? The thought of “dropping in” on rollerblades is even more frightening to me than on a board. At least on a board you have a chance of jumping off to gain some control!
August 19th, 2009 at 12:31 pmAwww, your boys are so cute. My 8 year old is practicing football in full pads for the first time today. My 17 yr old lacrosse player decided to try XC to stay in shape. Whatever works to keep these boys busy… Lord knows they need it! Love your blog!
August 19th, 2009 at 12:55 pmI think this means that you are a very, very cool mom.
August 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pmI love your blog! But, I must say “Where are the helmets for those gorgeous kids?” Sorry….
August 19th, 2009 at 1:34 pmThat is really neat! Although I would have been a nervous wreck worried somebody would bust their head open.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pmWhat? No comments about lack of helmets and pads? Geez people must be asleep.
My son skates without the gear too!
August 19th, 2009 at 1:38 pmOk Ok- I know your thing about being over cautious in this world with our kids, and we should lighten up and let them be kids. And I agree….but a twelve foot straight drop screams HELMET to me. Heck, I wouldn’t have had the stomach to watch at all I think, helmet or not. Forget the valium for the guy from The Office…I would be the one needing it. You’re a gutsy mom.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:41 pmFunny - I didn’t think about the gear at all.
It was the big hole in the ground + wheels = I’m so old and can’t imagine having the nerve to jump off some perfectly good flat ground. All the helmets and padding in the world wouldn’t make me ‘drop in’! I miss that part of being a kid — no fear and a slight lack of sense can sometimes makes for a pretty good time!
August 19th, 2009 at 2:10 pmWhen I was a preteen one of our neighbors built a “half pike” (I’m using fancy skate board words now
in their back yard. We all learned (yes even the girls) how to drop in, do Oliees and loved Tony Hawk!! I was busted up knees LOVING IT! And we did it all with (GASP) no protective gear!!
Those were the days!!
August 19th, 2009 at 2:11 pmLOL @ the Safety Brigade.
It’s the school of hard knocks. Not only do you learn from your mistakes after you break a bone or slam your head on the concrete, but you also get to go to school the following day (or week or month) with the cast or bruise and show everyone how metal you are.
August 19th, 2009 at 2:11 pmMy thoughts exactly…….and the first comment was about helmets. Give it a rest already!
August 19th, 2009 at 2:15 pmI must comment on this one. My oldest, 9.5 yrs, LOVES skateboarding with all his might. We have a city ramp/skate area just a few blocks from home that he adores. I cringe as I watch and he has the biggest smile on his face. Our youngest boy watches in amazement and cannot wait to be big enough to try the big ramp. Why can’t they love something like playing in the band, or reading quietly, or jogging!? Surely I jest b/c boys will definitely be boys. We are in the process of building a wooden ramp for the back yard (we have 5 acres of corn fields and grass) so if he goes down he’s going down close to home. Ugh, the ER is just waiting for us I’m sure.
August 19th, 2009 at 2:30 pmYou definitely picked up some extra street cred with your kids’ posse for that little outing. I can’t imagine making it through that day without melting into a little puddle of human soup at the bottom of the bowl from the shear sweltering heat on that thing.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:14 pmMy son would DIE for one of those in our town. Just DIE!
August 19th, 2009 at 3:16 pmI understand the whole not wearing a helmet while tooling around the driveway and cul-de-sac. But a skate park?… that I just can’t.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:27 pmWOO HOO Chris - you are my kind of mom.
My boys always loved it when I took them to the skate park (*sniff, now they drive themselves)…and I always thought they were so cool.
Now, I will say that our skate park required helmets, but knee pads and elbow pads were optional. LOL! I also remember that myy younger son broke his elbow at the skate park… and as the orthopedist said… pads wouldn’t have helped… so, no guilt mom.
Have fun and enjoy those kids… they grow up so darn fast! Oh and trust me, they won’t remember that you wrapped them in bubble wrap, etc. - they WILL remember that you were the mom who took them to the skate park.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:28 pmeven the skate parks are bigger in texas
Have fun dropping in
me i think i stick to tea.
August 19th, 2009 at 3:37 pmDuuuuuude. You are a good mom. And I’m so glad I don’t have boys! Because I would totally throw the heck up.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:06 pmThe phrase “dropping in” has always reminded me of the phrase “dropping acid”–like, same level of insanity?
August 19th, 2009 at 4:33 pmOh no, here we go with the helmets.
I’ve always suspected that “dropping in” is a lot scarier than it looks on ESPN2.
August 19th, 2009 at 5:01 pmat this point I’m just convinced these photo ops are just to piss people off. I can’t even look at those pictures without wanting to clutch something to keep from falling. I just wonder if you really scoff at safety equipment and people who wear it, or if you just like to rile people up so you can scold them about “the simple joys of childhood” that helmets would rob them of.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pmCool pic. You must have nerves of steel. I admit when I was around 7 or 8 I learned how to ride a skateboard; but I never learned how to maneuver it like a boy. My seven year old absolutely LOVES to watch the X games with the skateboarding and bike riding. He’d also like to participate; but my paranoia does not allow me to give him free reign just yet. As for the lack of gear - you probably have not heard the last of it. But dealing with the heat you guys are having, it may be a good thing. Looks as if your crew had a FAB time of it. I agree with Keonya - boys are fearless.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:05 pmKnow what I think stinks worse than the no helmet situation? The fact that those who mention it are considered idiots. So go ahead and label me an idiot. I have a friend who took the stance of “please, we didn’t have to wear helmets”, her son spent 2 1/2 weeks in a coma, not knowing if he’d live, and now has permanent brain damage which places him 3-4 years behind his peers. Ask her how she feels about helmets now….and no this isn’t a bs story concocted to prove a point.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:16 pmBottom line, kids heads are way softer than concrete, guess which one wins in head-on contact?
thinking I will be in the same boat someday. my Dh is hoping our boys will love skateboarding so they will burn up all their energy and stay occupied.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:18 pmYou’re going to be nailed for the NO HELMETS! Nailed, I say!
August 19th, 2009 at 9:33 pmI’m with Stacey. I agree with you that as a culture, we’ve gone over board protecting our children. I think there’s nothing wrong with kids not wearing a helmet to ride their bike up and down a quiet street.
But in this instance I think it’s dangerous and neglectful to not have a helmet on those kids.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:42 pmI see a few members of “The Safety Patrol” have surfaced. I wonder what they have to say about you exposing your kids to scorpions!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:26 amTwo words…Natasha Richardson.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:57 amI’m glad I have just a girlie girl, who (I’m pretty sure) will never want to do this.
I get that feeling not just from drop-offs, but also from huge patches of poison ivy or prickers - what if I should accidentally fling myself into the middle of that patch and roll around? As if I have to be on strict guard to be sure that does not happen.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:39 amboys are fearless … to the point of stupidity eh? But how else would X-games have ever been invented if not for boys and their (gradually increasing speed of) toys?????
Gotta love ‘em -
August 20th, 2009 at 7:32 amScary….my 4yo has bedsheets with skateboards on them. So far that’s the extent of it…
August 20th, 2009 at 8:38 amMy 4yo has skateboards on his bedsheets. So far that’s the extent of it….sigh…
August 20th, 2009 at 8:57 amWhen did it become everyone elses business how people raise their kids? We all live and die by our choices. Let people live thier life. If it really bothers you that much to see how she raises her kids stop reading her blog!
By the way the kids look like they are having a ball. Did your daughter and Miles give it a try?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:29 amFour words….Sonny Bono, Michael Kennedy.
I can’t read this blog anymore. I sincerely hope none of your children ever get seriously injured.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:58 pmThe grown men at our skate park always smell really bad too. What’s up with that. (I can’t even walk NEAR the bowl. I KNOW I would go temporarily crazy and fling myself down there.)
August 20th, 2009 at 2:05 pmI absolutely love that 1st picture you posted, so much. It’s almost too cute for me to handle!!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 3:05 pmLooks terrifying. No way would I have done this as a kid and I thank God every day that my girls are not interested in hurtling themselves over edges of things. My heart couldn’t handle it. Looks like the kids are having a hell of a time :).
Chris has already told her readers where she stands on helmets. I don’t agree with her stance, but me trying to convince her that her kids should have them on would be as fruitful as her trying to convince me to take the helmets off my kids. For every example of brain damage that could have been prevented by a helmet that I could give her, she could give me an example of all the kids who haven’t been hurt.
Enh.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:35 pmUgh, I have to be with the helmet people here….sorry. I love reading your blog and will continue to, of course. We can just agree to disagree.
BTW, all this coming from a mom whose child broke her arm 3 times all doing day to day activities. So I know a helmet doesn’t stop all injuries, but it does help prevent the deadly ones. Give me broken arms any day over head injuries.
All that being said, I’m sure they will be fine! They are such gorgeous boys and I love hearing all your stories. You truly inspire me!!
August 20th, 2009 at 3:47 pmOk, I gotta look through the older posts. I haven’t heard about this whole helmet controversy.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:24 pmwow. just wow. why do people feel the need to write something that has already been said in about 27 other comments? OK. point taken. YOU would have your kid wearing a helmet. I also wouldn’t feed my kids Kraft Mac & Cheese or hamburger helper. In fact, I’d probably let them skate without helmets before I feed them hamburger helper. yes. definitely.
different people. different priorities. what was that about FREEDOM in this country again? oh? freedom as long as other people agree that what I’m doing is OK? interesting.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:39 pmI think your children are just about the most beautiful little people! I have 6 kids and we try to make life about making memories, I love that you have such great pictures of all the great things you do.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:15 pmWe’ve reached a sort of crossroads, here. The people ranting against the pro-helmet crowd actually outnumber the people ranting about needing helmets. Whew.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pmMy son has a collection of 6 different helmets. Each helmet was purchased after a head pounding incident where he ended up in the ER to get an MRI. Somehow he survived his days of skateboarding, roller blading, and bicycling off of everything imaginable. He wore them a few times each while I nagged and then gave up. I am shocked and amazed that he made it through childhood with only a few stitches on his shin from his BMX bike and the cost of 6 MRI’s (never any brain damage). He joined the army, what was his skill? Why bomb disposal of course.
August 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pmMy middle kid loves skating - here we have a bike park too where you can take your bike over drops and curves and down this whirlpool thing. My boys LOVe it.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pmFrom a kids perspective - all my boys looked at these pictures and went “WIIICKKED!!” “Where is that” :Can WE go there?” The 3 year old said “AWTTH-OME!”
Not one said: “Oh golly, but where’s his helmet?
Boys do not see danger, they see challenge.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:53 pmLet them be challenged I say! If we can’t let them risk we will breed nation of.. well…overly entusiastic smelly men in full protective gear.
99.9% of the time they will be o.k. … but I’m sure there is someone out there with an actual study to give the actual percentage (sigh) of the actual number of actual instances in an telephone survey from 1997 of actual moms saving their (lucky!) boys from being just actual boys. I prefer to trust my maternal gut instict. And my boys gut instinct. They’re not as dumb as we think they are.It’s called instinct for a reason. They need it to survive so we won’t be a nation of valium needing old men needing to visit skate parks to get a dose of being a kid again….
Well, I do think the world has taken on a “safety” role that none of us grew up with. I will tell you my son broke his arm in three places when he fell while skateboarding ………… because of the “stupid” protective gear I made him wear! Even the ER doctor and the surgeon who put the four plates in his arm told me so. My nephew was burned badly because the seat bealt, that is law that he wear, got stuck and he could not get out of the burning car. I could go on and on ………… my pointt is, I think all of you that are giving her “HELL” cause her kids don’t have helmets and safey gear on ………. need to get over yourselves and mind your own business!
August 20th, 2009 at 9:29 pmLOLOLOLOL
I think I enjoyed reading the comments more so than the post.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pmLOL too! Awesome park
August 21st, 2009 at 12:43 amOh…….wait until your kids get “interrogated” by the doctor at their yearly check ups about protective headgear for bikes, etc…I looked like a total freak that day
August 21st, 2009 at 2:28 amI missed the part where Chris asked for our opinions on whether or not her kids should wear helmets. Oh wait, that’s right, she didn’t!
August 21st, 2009 at 10:25 amSeeya says:
Four words….Sonny Bono, Michael Kennedy.
I can’t read this blog anymore. I sincerely hope none of your children ever get seriously injured.
hhahahaahah COME ON!!! What a joke
August 21st, 2009 at 11:44 amI freaking love that first picture… I sort of picture a rival group of kids on the other side.. your kids winning the skate-off of course!! LOL sure there are no rival gangs in your “Mr. Rogers” perfect neighborhood. So jealous! Still LOL @ “seeya” though… Seriously, what a joke!
August 21st, 2009 at 4:00 pmEarlier this year, I blogged about my son’s skate park experience.
Yes, I definitely need valium. Or possibly the kind of drugs Michael Jackson was given regularly.
http://babyfavorite.blogspot.com/2009/02/his-psyche-is-still-slightly-bruised.html
August 24th, 2009 at 1:02 amIt wasn’t until I saw your response that it even occurred to me that there were no helmets or anything. Perhaps ‘cos that’s how I always saw everyone skate at home, back when I was hanging around half-pipes (of course, ours were made of scrap lumber in backyards, ‘cos who ever heard of a whole PARK made just for skating? Craziness).
I hate that the same people who come here to enjoy your writing and coo over your kids also feel it’s their place to chastise you for how you parent.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:16 amThat’s an awesome park! They have a nice skate park near one of our favorite summer hangouts, I see this in my near future.
The parks and rec department has a beginning skate class at said park for 6+, sounds cool. Now to see if my nerves will let go!
Yep, you earned your cool Mom star for the week!
August 25th, 2009 at 8:10 pm