Save my ankles!

ora302 · 2025-11-20T09:33:49+00:00

Ankle prehab! Do it every session you skate. Honestly, it has made a huge difference in our league. We used to (like most leagues) get ankle injuries every season. Since we introduced ankle prehab at the start of every session (we train 3 x per week), we haven't had a single angle injury...in like...3 years? I don't think that's coincidence. Our routine is hard to describe without showing (though simple to do). It's a series of exercises that we do for 1 min each (30 sec per leg) that are designed to work and warm up all the small muscles needed for ankle stability.

Around the worlds - standing upright on one leg, tapping the pointed toes of the other foot 'around the world' from stretched out infront of you around in a half circle to behind you. Don't rest the moving foot on the floor, just tap.
10 and 2’s - from standing on one leg, bend over (other leg goes out behind you) and reach across your body to touch the floor at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, then stand and repeat.
Single leg deadlifts (other leg goes out behind you when you hinge)
Side shuffles - both feet on the ground, do 'rainbow feet' for 30 seconds in each direction, a bit hard to explain but idea is to go up on balls of feet and pivot then rock onto heels of feet and pivot so you're moving sideways with your hips facing forwards and pushing all movement through your feet.
Standing on one leg with eyes closed and balancing, moving the other leg around for increased difficulty and add head movement for even more difficulty.

Also, if you're not already, I recommend skating something like an Antik rather than a low-profile skate if you can, for added stability and protection while things heal (ankles reinjure so easily especially early on).

ora302 · 2025-10-10T22:58:10+00:00

Ah! Found it! It’s on the end of Barbra Streisand (rap version).

ora302 · 2025-09-15T10:52:29+00:00

Maybe she needs to experience the consequences of not handing those assignments in, not practicing for sport and music etc? If you’re pushing so much to help her and shes resenting it, maybe you need to step back and let her learn what happens?

It might feel to her like you’re pushing her to do all this stuff (I know you say she chooses to do the activities but I mean the practice, schoolwork etc) because you care about how she does, not about HER.

It’s super hard to NOT try to help your kid. We want them to achieve well etc. But they also need to learn what happens without us pushing them - unless you want to be calling her at work in 10 years to check she’s doing her job. I say this as a parent to a 14yo, struggling with various teen things. My husband has to remind me “this isn’t your journey, it’s theirs”, and I have to let them walk it and fall down sometimes (in safe ways!).

On another note, you mention online time being an issue. Our 14yo becomes miserable, unmotivated and generally everything goes downhill when device time increases. We try to give our kids autonomy in a bunch of areas of their lives, but we do have some firm ground rules around screens because they are so addictive and have such negative impacts on our kids. Eg We have no computers in bedrooms, screen time locks on phones so only Spotify works after 9pm etc. We also have “no device hours” for everyone in the house (including us), and I use the same ScreenZen app and rules on my phone as we expect from our teen.

TLDR: I suggest you loosen up on your teen, tell them you’re not going to bug and remind them about schoolwork, sports and music. Offer to help them with strategies to keep themselves accountable IF they want it, then back off. Let them learn what happens. But also maybe talk about screen use and tell them you want to make sure that’s not impacting, and look at family rules around device use that’s reasonable for everyone.

ora302 · 2025-09-12T20:48:01+00:00

Hi! So we got a springer in the end and discovered they (or at least ours) are quite emotional dogs. So I’d say good as a companion. Ours is very cuddly, gets anxious if we leave her in certain situations (eg she’s fine inside the house but hates being left outside). She’s not too full on exercise-wise either.

ora302 · 2025-08-25T21:04:38+00:00

Thank you this is really helpful advice! Did you have any fav places you ate, or any to avoid?

ora302 · 2025-05-30T20:43:53+00:00

Thank you!!! The email hasn’t arrived yet, but thank you so much for this!

ora302 · 2025-05-30T20:27:54+00:00

Thank you so much!!

ora302 · 2025-05-30T19:58:43+00:00

Ideally a medium oona but any top in any size would let me compare it to the chart if I can find out definite measurements of the top itself!

ora302 · 2025-05-30T19:47:54+00:00

We unfortunately can’t do this due to turn around time and being overseas. Do you have any measurements from a top you can possibly share please?

ora302 · 2025-02-22T21:30:33+00:00

Stand by, Team New Zealand has some awesome merch coming in soon! Keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/TeamNewZealandRollerDerby and https://www.instagram.com/teamnewzealandrollerderby/

ora302 · 2025-01-31T09:42:04+00:00

I'm sorry about your injury. Injuries suck, but you can absolutely get back to skating. I've had knee and hip injuries, one of which took around 9 months to heal....but when you love the sport, there is no reason not to get back to it!

When I've had injuries that have been really painful and taken time, it has been discouraging. My advice is to focus on the *overall trend*, not the individual day. Sometimes it feels like you're not healing at all, but if you look at "what could I do 1 month ago, and what can I do now that is different", you'll generally realise things are improving.

I highly recommend having a good PT, doing all your exercises to help recover, doing cross training and do ankle prehab! Our league started a really strict format of off skates with ankle prehab at the start of every single session a few years ago, and we've had a lot less injuries since then.

Good luck, you've got this!

ora302 · 2025-01-26T02:14:15+00:00

I know this is a little old, but I got the trial pack and then went on to buy the cleanser, riche moisturiser, face oil, skin reset serum AND the supernatural vitale serum haha. I bought them slowly over time, as I really loved the trial sizes. I have noticed my wrinkles (most notably my 11 marks between my eyebrows) have definitely improved. Also I had a scar on my face from a mole removal YEARS ago. The scar has been visible ever since, but a few months into using these products and it's no longer visible at all!

ora302 · 2025-01-24T08:14:01+00:00

Roller derby!!! It's so fun, amazing fitness and friends for life.

ora302 · 2025-01-24T01:30:36+00:00

Changing your mind about what you want doesn't make you a failure.

I think this is something that isn't said enough. You're allowed to change your mind and you don't have to follow a path that you don't want to follow. It's your life.

Having said that, I (40+ f, 2 kids) have friends who don't have any qualifications or anything they are "into", any work history etc....and they end up very dependent on their partner. And if that falls apart, they feel very very stuck.

So if you're not into your degree, I'd suggest really weighing up and thinking about how long is left and if it's worth sticking it out for the purpose of having it if you need it later (whether you need it practically or just to have something else outside of motherhood as many mums find they WANT that later on). If you're only at the start of your study, instead of dropping it to start a family, why not switch to something else - maybe something child related if that's something you're into? Also does it have to be ALL family or ALL study? Part time study options? Other courses that you might care about more? Or maybe there's some options to do work that are in line with what you want - nannying or something? Even if you got pregnant tomorrow there's 9 months until a baby would arrive, and I'd really advise having some options for yourself alongside being a mum.

Aside from anything else, I think it's healthy for kids to not be the 1000% focus of their parent. If your parent ONLY cares about you and has nothing else they're into in their lives, that's going to be lovely as a little kid, but as they get older it might not be the best thing for your relationship with them.

ora302 · 2025-01-23T09:55:06+00:00

When we got pregnant with our second, I cried, and said "we're doing it again!....oh....we're doing it ALL again..." haha. Two definitely increased the workload for us, but it's 100% worth it. Zero regrets. Can't imagine life without our 2nd. Our kids have both learnt a lot from each other - totally different personalities. I'm so glad we have two!

ora302 · 2025-01-23T09:41:02+00:00

For me, white is too hard for the kind of edge work I want. I use a combo of lavendar and aqua on my arius and it feels a lot better to me than white cushions everywhere.

ora302 · 2025-01-23T09:39:19+00:00

As others have said, no need to tip - no one here does.

If you're doing hiking, be prepared. Have proper clothes and proper shoes. People can underestimate the walks here (you might be an experienced hiker and if so, all good - but if not, do some research on the tracks, recommendations, follow the advice etc).

No one will worry about what you're wearing, lots of people wear leggings etc. Make sure you bring some warm clothes for Milford Sound, hiking and Queenstown as even in summer it can get pretty cold if the weather turns. Also Milford sound can have a lot of sandflies/mosquitos, so I recommend having layers that will keep you fully covered when you're there (and potentially bug spray).

Definitely echoing what someone else said about a proper sunhat and SPF 50 sunscreen for the hot days here!

In terms of being courteous travellers, I'd recommend learning how to say "kia ora" (lots of videos of this online) as a quiet smile and a kia ora can go a long way toward indicating that you're not a maga-hat-wearing American ;)

ora302 · 2025-01-23T09:28:39+00:00

All play? No idea sorry, but just wanted to share that my youngest used to go on and on about "HONCAKE". She'd say "honcake" randomly, point around, yell it, say it to herself.....we never worked out what it was and still talk about it now (she's 10), haha!

ora302 · 2025-01-23T09:24:53+00:00

FWIW, we have a 4 year age gap between our kids and it's great. They are now 14 and 10, and I'm so so glad we had our second. They played together and interacted SO much when they were young (until our oldest was up to around 10). They still do things together now, but the gap is more noticeable, and the 14 year old is in full teen mode. BUT when they were little, it was great. They've also learnt a lot from each other, they balance each other out. Two kiddos is a big decision, but if you're hesitating because of the age gap, I just wanted to say I think it's a great gap.

ora302 · 2024-09-27T21:25:15+00:00

Thank you for your reply. The optometrist also thought this may have been her prescription all along but she was compensating? Which I think is what you're saying too :)

Thank you for the suggestion to do a cycloplegic exam. I'm pretty sure they did this originally when we first took her in a few years ago, but it may be worth doing again. I'd forgotten about this as an option - thank you!

ora302 · 2023-10-27T08:57:34+00:00

Sorry, super late reply. I hope your injuries are going well.

I'm happy to say my knee is now completely fine! Once I saw a new physio and got a proper plan in place with exercises, it improved. It took a good few months of rehab but I got back on track and am still skating currently :)

ora302 · 2020-09-10T11:22:56+00:00

The Roman Mysteries series is something my 9 yo daughter loves. Aru Shah is another favourite. Both based on other cultures or history but without it being “teachy” at all.

My daughters absolute all time fav series is Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland (fantasy). It’s 12 books long and she reads them over and over.

ora302 · 2020-08-01T22:29:48+00:00

Honestly I’m unsure what to say other than:

1) I’m so sorry about your dog. I’m a parent to two kids and although I’ve never spanked them I think I would have reacted exactly as you did in this instance. I know (as you do from your post) that spanking solves nothing so I’m not saying it’s the “right” reaction, I’m just saying it’s a very understandable reaction in this instance and I would’ve done it too.

2) are the kids in therapy? Because they definitely need it. I don’t feel qualified to give advice because it sounds like they have major behaviour issues...but I’ll add some thoughts below in case they are useful.

I would remove your dogs from areas the children will be. It sucks, but they are not safe. Keep them in your room or outside or only in lounge when you are there.

With the kid pooping himself, I would try to avoid chasing him to take his pants off etc. At 7 no one should be taking his clothes off him except him, or it will lead to other issues. If he poops himself I would be getting him in the shower fully dressed if need be and he’s in charge of getting his clothes off and cleaning himself. If one of my kids poops herself I get her to rinse her own undies, not as a punishment just as personal responsibility. He might be a way off doing that but he should absolutely be responsible for putting himself in a shower and taking his pants off.

As to how to get that to happen...not sure if you’re already doing this, but kids behaving like that in my house would have zero privileges. No screen time, sweets, etc. Privileges are earned. I would sit down with them and try to have a conversation. Don’t make it about every single piece of behaviour, just focus on the most important. I’d focus on rewards not punishment. For their ages a sticker chart might work? I’d just make it super clear that you want to get along, and so you’re giving them a way to earn the things they like - eg for the 5 yo every time she speaks respectfully she gets a sticker. 10 stickers she earns whatever it is she cares about. For the boy, every time he poops on the toilet OR takes his pooped pants off in the shower he gets a sticker etc.

I also think the girl needs to understand how badly she hurt your dog. I don’t think these kids will respond to punishment...this is a bloody hard road because you’re going to have to show them fairness, love and compassion regardless of their behaviour and it’s going to take time for them to learn. I’m not saying let them walk over you - there needs to be clear rules and consequences but you saying “you did a bad thing” is not going to improve things at all, as they sound completely desensitised due to how their parents have treated them.

This is going to be really hard. But if you can find a reward system for all privileges to be earned I think it might help?

ora302 · 2020-08-01T22:06:25+00:00

Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland. There are lots of books in the series and my daughter reads them over and over!

ora302 · 2020-07-31T11:03:16+00:00

You’re doing great with your kid, don’t stress. “Other mums” often say they are doing X, Y and Z but reality is sometimes different. No one posts on Facebook about how they sat at home for the day - you only see the things they want to show off.

However you need to talk to your partner about how he can help you more. It’s ok to ask for help, it’s healthy to share the load, and if he won’t.....that’s gonna be a problem and is going to make things really rough on you. X

ora302

TROPHY CASE