Sledding with Nana
Many, many years ago– before I was a mom and my mom was a Nana, I grew up in a house right down the street from the city park. In the warm-weather months, there were swings and slides, tennis courts and basketball. These days, there is a stage, shelter house, bench swings, hiking trails and a bike path. In the winter months though, watch out…
The city park boasted one of the biggest hills in town. It was where all the “cool kids” hung out to sled on snow days. By the time the snow was deep enough to sled on, the hill would be crawling with children and adults in brightly colored coats and hats. Sleds flying down the hill as fast as can be. By the time the day was over, you could see the grass from all the sled marks and foot prints.
I’ve spent many an hour sledding down the hill at the park. My sled was a hand-me down. My dad used it when he was a young boy. It was made of wood and had metal runners– the thing would fly down the hills.
One time, in particular, always sticks out in my mind. Mom took me to the park by ourselves really late at night– I don’t know if my brother was just a baby or if he wasn’t born yet or was asleep.
We bundled up and got the sled from the garage and headed out into the dark night. She told me to get on the sled and she walked out into the middle of our street.
She pulled me all the way down the street to the park on the sled. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing in the world to have the hill to ourselves, let alone having my mom walk down the center of the street pulling me on the sled.
We sledded for hours– okay, maybe not that long, but it seemed like it– then trudged home for hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Of all the times I went sledding, this one time with mom sticks out. I don’t know if it was the novelty of going late at night or the fact my mom “broke” the rules by pulling me in the middle of the street.
Unfortunately, my kids haven’t had the opportunity to go sledding yet. When we did have enough snow this year, they were sick.
But, when we do go, you better believe I will be taking our sled that my dad used as a boy.
Three generations will have used that sled.
And, I bet it still flies.
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I’m glad you wrote about your past. I’m from TX so we didn’t have much snow. I remember getting trash can lids and sliding down my front yard hill. Looking forward to reading more from you!
I can remember “sneaking” out to go sledding with my mom early one morning before the sun came up! She had to work that day but had promised to take us sledding… so we went just as the sun was waking up. Making memories is what it is all about!
I grew up in the snow belt, where we played in feet of snow all winter long. I have never been on a sled at night. How much fun was your mom??? I just might have to take my kids out the next time it snows.
Your post brings back so many memories of my childhood. I grew up in Indiana and my grandparents lived on a huge hill. OMG it was so much fun in the winter. Living in Texas we don’t get much snow and when we do it doesn’t stick so my kids don’t have the opportunity to go sledding every winter. Thanks again for the walk down memory lane.