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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dh won’t ice skate

278 replies

Alwayseatingpringles · 02/01/2026 19:46

Dd, 7 desperate to go ice skating (has only done it when little on a kids ice rink, holding onto one of the penguin things.
Now she’s a little older, there’s a bigger rink nearby at Christmas. She always asks Dh to go with her and he says no.
i do so many things with Dd, I don’t want to
ice skate, but I feel bad for Dd
Should she try on her own and we watch? I know she would probably need help, all I see is dads helping their kids

Would your Dh do it?

Aibu?

OP posts:
WhyNotUsehis · 02/01/2026 21:30

I ski and find ice skating scarey

I have honestly expected to break my neck/legs the few times I've tried it

I know that your argument is that you do most kid-based activities, but do you do them wondeting (quite seriously) if you'll survive them?

Bouliegirl · 02/01/2026 21:31

Qwerty21 · 02/01/2026 20:38

Maybe in private school? Not in any state school I've ever known

In Scotland. In DSs school they had lessons in P3

Bouliegirl · 02/01/2026 21:33

PurpleThistle7 · 02/01/2026 21:12

Huh? Is this a thing? I’ve never heard of a school with ice skating

It is in my son’s school. I had assumed that this was a modern thing that schools did these days. But clearly I’m wrong!

AleaEim · 02/01/2026 21:33

You’re both being ridiculous, take the poor child skating, everyone and their mother have been ice skating for Christmas, why should your child miss out. Hold on to the sides and get over yourselves.

ThunderFog · 02/01/2026 21:35

YABVVU
I love ice skating. So sad to read about injuries and burnout.
If your DH doesn't want to skate, don't pressure him.
Those pop-up ice rinks are no fun at all anyway. Either overcrowded and boring, or else got drunk young men blundering insanely around - no place for children.

Winterburn · 02/01/2026 21:40

Take her and a friend and you spectate. Seems pretty straightforward, and that’s how I remember skating being when I was very young. Me and friend(s) would blunder round a few times til we got our balance and then we were away.

When I got a bit older, about 11-12 ish I did lessons for a few years and it’s one thing I’m grateful for, as I have my own skates and I can still skate, which is a bit of an unusual thing in the wider population, as not many people live close enough to an ice rink to really learn.

Hedgehogsaremyjam · 02/01/2026 21:43

You can't let a 7 year old go by herself.

See if you have any friends who can skate. I have taken my friend's kids

FuzzyWolf · 02/01/2026 21:45

If she wants to ice skate then pay for her to have lessons so she can do it independently. Holding onto an adult or using a penguin gives the wrong posture and stops the child being able to push the skates properly.

It’s a quick and enjoyable hobby for a child to pick up. It’s harder for an adult to reach the same standard in time.

TamarindCottage · 02/01/2026 21:46

Bouliegirl · 02/01/2026 20:36

i see lots of people suggesting ice skating lessons. Don’t they get ice skating lessons at school?

Only if you live in Canada

borntobequiet · 02/01/2026 21:48

Unless he can skate well himself, it’s a silly idea. Book lessons, as everyone says.

Timeforacuppanow · 02/01/2026 21:48

We paid for beginner group lessons at the rink for our 2. It was really cheap and both learned really quickly. Taught them all the basics within a few weeks. Didn’t take long and they didn’t need - or want - me on the ice with them.

VanillaDaydream · 02/01/2026 21:49

I dislocated my shoulder ice skating on a Christmas themed ice rink. Will never take the DC and DH won’t either due to what happened to me. DC understand, for us there are too many risks

shiningcuckoo · 02/01/2026 21:54

Take her with a friend so they can skate together? I used to skate every week - sometimes twice a week. I was fast and confident, zooming round the ice going forwards and backwards, squealing as boys engaged in ice based flirting by spraying me and my friends with slushy ice. Then i didnt skate for 30 years. i genuinely though it was something you'd never forget. I stepped onto the ice at the age of 45, almost immediately my feet went from under me and I landed on my tailbone. It gave me trouble for the next 2 years. My skating days are over and falling on ice REALLY hurts.

ChampagneLassie · 02/01/2026 21:57

Can you find a friend to go with who does enjoy it? One of our neighbour’s teenagers love skating so I’m going with them and my daughter for her first try and the teenagers will look after my little one on the ice.

latetothefisting · 02/01/2026 21:57

do you have any friends or family that would take her? I always take my nieces and nephews because I love it and their parents don't, and would happily take any of my friends' kids as well if they wanted (if they paid for the child and were around to watch just in case anything happened).

I think it's fair enough for him to not want to do it if you also don't (and as pps have pointed out, someone who can't skate themselves and doesn't want to be there probably won't be much help or result in a fun outing), but you've got a bigger problem if he never does anything at all with her.

shiningcuckoo · 02/01/2026 21:58

My own children learned to skate on outdoor rinks - basically frozen ponds. They grew up in an alpine area. They are really good and can easily pick themselves up if they fall. Far more resilient than me. I think that skating can be hard for adults.

Londonrach1 · 02/01/2026 22:02

Yabu. You won't do it as much as dh. Tbh I totally understand why. Get some lessons for DD if she is keen

Purplecatshopaholic · 02/01/2026 22:03

Neither of you want to ice skate, it’s not a DH issue as such. Understandable, it’s not for everyone. Get her a few lessons, or you know, just say no this time. If her dad doesn’t do much with her that’s a separate issue, maybe find something they both do want to do together.

Livpool · 02/01/2026 22:04

I really hurt my leg ice skating on New York so no,
I would t do it with DS. What things do you? Ice skating is not like going to soft play or a bounce place!

PeloMom · 02/01/2026 22:14

I don’t enjoy it and wouldn’t be happy if my DH felt I should because he does other stuff with DC. It’s ok to say no. Or you both suck it up and do it together. Have you asked him what would he like to do / take off your plate in terms of activity with DC?

WiltedLettuce · 02/01/2026 22:14

I won't ice skate. I have zero balance. My older DC is reasonably good. I had to go on the ice with him recently because under 10s needed an adult and he was whizzing around while I was grimly gripping the side and reluctantly moving to let people get past me. The one time I let go, I fell flat on my face and badly bruised my chin.

Not a pleasant hour and not one I'll repeat in a hurry. Either my DH will have to do the ice skating in future or we'll have to sign DC up for lessons.

Notmyreality · 02/01/2026 22:14

Bouliegirl · 02/01/2026 20:36

i see lots of people suggesting ice skating lessons. Don’t they get ice skating lessons at school?

Maybe in Lapland

Notmyreality · 02/01/2026 22:15

TamarindCottage · 02/01/2026 21:46

Only if you live in Canada

Or Narnia

PeloMom · 02/01/2026 22:16

TamarindCottage · 02/01/2026 21:46

Only if you live in Canada

Not true. There are no skating lessons at schools in Canada. Yes, most kids start skating at 2-3 yrs old but it’s on the parents to take them.

Poodlelove · 02/01/2026 22:17

I wouldn't be able to do it , so I wouldn't expect my husband to do it.
Imagine if you forced him to do it and he broke his leg / arm ?
Is he able to come and watch both of you do it?

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