The side door to the Houston arena creaks open at 6:30 every weekday morning. Bleary-eyed moms and dads, coffee mugs in hand, walk behind their children. Everyone is here for the same reason - it's time for figure skating practise and a lesson from the Head Coach Andrea Ludditt.

As a past Houston Figure Skating Club (HFSC) Mom, I well remember those endless early mornings- helping a half -awake child into leotards and skates, taking them to the arena, then off to school. I also remember opening my check book up and leaving it that way for the entire 6 month season

The travel and crowded hotel rooms for competitions. The tears, the sheer joy, the look of pride and accomplishment on my son or daughter's face when they surpassed even their own expectations. For that alone, I figure the HFSC and the other figure skating clubs in neighbouring towns to be some of the best organizations a parent can get their children involved in.

Raising a youngster in the North can be difficult. There is a definite lack of structured things to do with kids, especially in a community the size of Houston.