My Foot Hurts -- But I Have Another

Last weekend my youngest daughter was invited to go skiing with a neighbor girl.  They went together to a local ski shop the night before -- a different shop than her dad uses.

When the young woman who helped her with equipment rental had her try on a pair of boots, my daughter said they were too small. "They'll be just fine," the girl told her crisply.

Perhaps the boots were fine for the shop girl, but my daughter's feet are still blistered, bruised and painful -- where she has feeling!  She endured the pain during a full day of skiing, then burst into tears as soon as she came inside the house.  I commiserated with her, then suggested ways she might ease the pain.  She took a long, relaxing bath and read a book.

A mother's emotions are certainly mixed, when situations like these arise!  I did not give someone a piece of my mind, for I haven't any pieces to spare. My daughter has heard other, similar situations about that particular rental shop; she has determined not to return with her business.

Can pain help us?  I hope so.  I hope that my daughter will not be soured on skiing, and that she will be wise enough to separate the reasons from the negative experience.  I hope she will have the courage to politely stand up for herself next time, even if someone in "authority" initially brushes off her input.  And I hope she will have compassion for others, even when they don't remember kindness when they ask for help.


Photos from sxc.hu, used courtesy of frederico paiva and Renxx Gmdr.