Do You Like This Story?

By REBECCA SPARROW

Unless you’re a teenager or Avril Lavigne, it’s entirely possible you have no clue who I’m talking about. Tony Hawk is a 44-year-old professional skateboarder. He’s famous for being the first man to land a 900-degree aerial spin on a skateboard (I have no idea what that actually means but it sounds impressive.) He’s like the Godfather of modern skating and skateparks. There are Playstation games about him. Rides at themeparks.

So in a nutshell: Hawk is cool. Or he was. Until he posted a photo of himself and his four-year-old daughter Kadence – skateboarding in a concrete bowl without helmets.

Screen Shot 2012 12 19 at 11.23.29 AM Merry Christmas Tony Hawk. The world thinks youre a lousy parent.

You can see where this is going, can’t you?

Hawk posts a photo on Instagram and says: “Updated frontside fling photo courtesy of @msk8blake. She is learning to skate on her own, so we might not be doing this much longer.”

The world replies: “You’re a f*cknuckle. Put a helmet on her, you douche”. Okay I’m paraphrasing but you get the gist.

Nothing like a public smackdown in the week leading up to Christmas!
Pouring gasoline onto the blaze, Hawk fought back and posted a second helmet-less pic of his daughter skateboarding and said “For those that say I endanger my child: it’s more likely that you will fall while walking on the sidewalk than I will while skating with my daughter.”
Screen Shot 2012 12 19 at 11.25.06 AM Merry Christmas Tony Hawk. The world thinks youre a lousy parent.
Rightio.
You know what this reminds me of?   The Steve Irwin/Baby Bob/Crocodile Dangling incident of 2004 when Irwin took his four-week-old son into a crocodile enclosure and craddled him under one arm while he dangled a piece of raw chicken meat in front of a four-metre croc.

steve+irwin+crocodile1 380x338 Merry Christmas Tony Hawk. The world thinks youre a lousy parent.To gasps from his audience, Steve Irwin cradled one-month-old Robert under one arm while dangling a piece of chicken from the other in front of a four metre (13 foot) crocodile.Once the meat was snapped up, Mr Irwin turned to his son and said: “Good boy, Bob”.

The crocodile expert defended his act, which included his American wife Terri carrying Robert into the crocodile enclosure.
He said he was in control the whole time and the baby was never in danger.

“If I could have my time again I would probably do things differently,” he admitted. “But I would be considered a bad parent if I didn’t teach my children to be croc-savvy.” Mrs Irwin said her baby enjoyed the experience.

To say Irwin received a backlash is an understatement. He was reportedly devastated by the furore his actions caused.

So here we have two experts in their fields breaking the rules the rest of us live by.  Irwin – one of the greatest wildlife handlers the world had seen – had his children growing up around the types of animals that could chew them up for breakfast.  Hawk – legendary skater and a man who has his own 45 sq m skate park in his backyard – allowed his daughter to skate with him without protection.

So do these experts know what they’re doing?  Or are they – in an attempt to show off – putting the lives of their children at risk?

Actually there’s a third question to ask … What business is it of ours either way?

And I say that with all sincerity.

Maybe we should respect their judgement and butt out? Maybe they have the expertise to judge a situation in a way that we can’t.

Should Tony Hawk’s daughter have been wearing a helmet?   I don’t know. I WASN’T THERE.  But what I do know is that I’d hate for any of you to follow me around for 24 hours and notice some of the screw ups and blunders I make with my kids. Yesterday I found my 10-month-old in the bathroom about to lick the toilet brush.

Being outraged by the actions of other parents is seductive – mostly because it allows us to briefly revel in the notion there are worse parents out there than us.  So I see photos of Tony Hawk’s daughter skating with no helmet and I get to think, “You know I may have left my 10 month old baby unsupervised and allowed him to come close to licking GOD KNOWS WHAT off a toilet brush but I can tell you right now that when he goes skating, he wears a a damn helmet.”

Ummmmmm.

So all I’m going to say to Tony Hawk is “Yo, yo, wassup dawg? Have a merry Christmas”.

And my gift to you, Tony? I’m going to mind my own business.

Comments

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134 Comments so far

  1. Anons

    I don’t think he’s a lousy parent.

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  2. Anonymous

    Frankly I think my 4 year old would be safer on a skateboard with Tony and no helmet, than on a skateboard with me and all the safety gear in the world!

    Surely it’s about making a judgement call based on the individual situation?

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  3. Anon

    So we should not let kids climb trees, swim in dams and rivers, ride their bikes to school, or anything else that has some sort of risk?

    What a ridiculous article.

    Why on earth aren’t you writing about the kids who are in real danger, those whose deadbeat parents drink to excess and use drugs in the presence of the kids, instead of bagging out a father who is spending time having fun with his kid?

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    • Kate Hunter

      Anon, Suggest you read what Bec wrote.

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      • Anon

        Yep, you’re right Kate, stuffed that one up big time didn’t I?

        That’ll teach me to fly off the handle.

        Think I’ll go have some humble pie.

        Sorry Bec.

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  4. Lizi

    Interesting to compare the comments here with those for the story about the mum in the UK who doesn’t want her son with cancer to have surgery, but rather wants to explore an alternative method.

    Before everyone flames me and says ‘it’s not the same at all’, both articles do raise questions of personal freedom/choice of parents compared with the community right to ‘butt in’ or overrule that personal freedom when it sees it as necessary.

    For the record (not that either parent will care overmuch, and why should they?) I stand in favour of helmets on unsupervised kids (note the word ‘unsupervised’), and definitely in favour of surgery to cure cancer when the percentage rate for success is so high.

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    • Lulu

      I think it’s the ‘immediate danger’ thing, although I think you’re suggesting there might be a ‘parent gender’ thing as well? Possibly, but difficult to determine when the cases are so different.

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  5. Dani

    I have worked in child protection for 7 years and Tony’s actions don’t worry me at all! If the general public knew what horrible and sickening things happen to children in Australia everyday not wearing a helmet wouldn’t bother them either!

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    • Bec

      My Dad used to sit me on his lap and let me hold the steering wheel when he drove the car. Nobody said he was a lousy parent back in the 70s.

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      • Anon

        We used to shove the entire cricket team and the kit in the coach’s valiant station wagon.

        Of the 11 kids in the car, 3 had seatbelts, the rest of us just had to hang on!

        11 boys farting in a closed car in summer wasn’t much fun either, but we thought it hilarious at the time.

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  6. juliedavis70

    In an age where so many parents work long hours and dads struggle to find time with their kids, how is this bad? Ok, perhaps a helmet might have made sense…..but as others have pointed out….HE is Tony Hawk!!!
    I have always been confused at the insistence of helmets, yes they can protect the skull, but what about the neck? They aren’t protected & really, if you break that the consequences are pretty dire.
    I try to teach my kids to be risk aware, not risk adverse. I’d much rather see my kids outside, with their dad playing, have a fabulous time, than indoors in front of a screen.
    Loved this Bec!

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  7. shellystone

    At least he is spending time with his children… How many celebrity Dad’s can we say that about?

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  8. Annad

    Pretty sure Tony Hawk doesn’t care what any of you think. He’s doing what he does best and his daughter looks like shes having the time of her life.
    Y’all need to chill.

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    • hmm...

      That’s not what this is all about. I agree with you that most of these comments matter little to him, but perhaps they should. He is a role model after all and that comes with some responsibility. on your second point, of course she is having a wonderful time! What child wouldn’t be? There is no question of enjoyment here. Merely the justification of safety risks taken. Working on a neuro ward I can tell you that IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND for the unexpected accident to occur. Just a second. So, yes, he knows what he is doing, he doesnt care what we think ( but publishes photos anyway) and she is having a blast. All true. But for all those kids watching, they see an awedome role model with little regard for safety measures and the dreaded ‘geeky’ helmet cant compete with that.

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  9. Miss Finance

    The way some people reacted you’d think he had her strapped to his roof racks doing 100kmh off road.

    It’s a skateboard for god’s sake. On a road, at high speeds, in traffic? Yeah, wear a helmet… but this really isn’t bad… what’s next? Kids wearing helmets to walk to school? To climb trees? To bed? Talk about cotton wool.

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    • T

      He is skating on concrete. It would cause a serious head injury if she fell on in head first, just like a road. Wearing a helmet while walking to school is unreasonable; wearing one when speed and concrete are involved is not.

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  10. Flutterby

    I even think farmers and kids on farms should have to wear helmets on quad bikes and horses. I am the ultimate party pooper.

    To me, it’s about the “one time”. It only takes one time for things to go horribly wrong and your life or your child’s life is never the same.

    Even though we have a pool gate, we are putting an extra combination lock on it as we have older kids and a bubba.

    Back to old mate on his board and Steve, I suppose your level of outrage depends on whether you consider a child as being fully under the parents guardianship or a member of society because the arguments are about personal values versus societal values.

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  11. Lucinda

    If anyone thinks Tony is bad Dad, the stories about what my Dad used do with my little sisters would make people shudder. He once let my sister at 18 months climb up through the man hole with him and sit in the roof while he was doing some work up there. Mum went off…. “but I told her where to sit (on a support beam) and told her not to move, she was okay”. Cue mum screaming at him “she’s 18 months old!”. Between the ages of 2 and 3 he also let both sisters use his jigsaw in the garage on their own to cut pieces of wood out. He sent them down a gushing river on an inner tube and then had to run down the river bank and rescue them. We loved the adventures… Dad used to tell us Mum was the fun tyrant.

    We never died or got hurt once. Dad is nearly 57 now and still an extremely un-safety conscious person. He climbed on the roof during cyclone Yasi because the branch clunking into it was “annoying him and he thought it might do damage”. Mum was a little concerned. LOL

    Despite the fact that he was really quite irresponsible when it came to safety and age appropriate activities, I think my sisters and I would all still trust him with our lives… funny isn’t it?

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    • hmmm...

      Stories like this, while a bit funny, are also dangerous. It is the exception rather than the rule. It is similar to the stories told by life-time smokers who never get cancer or heart disease and live well into their 90′s. It can inspire people into believing dangerous behaviour does not have consequences. I don’t think your dad is the only one to exhibit irresponsible behaviour. I am glad you are all ok and your mother doesn’t have a stomach ulcer, but to suggest that perching children on the rooftop or letting them engage in woodcutting ‘adventures’ in the garage at such a young age is a little irresponsible too.

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      • Lucinda

        I have actually suggested or inspired anything? I was just telling a story that points out that Dads often aren’t very safety conscious, and Tony’s actions were hardly going to cause serious injury, and if something happened, a helmet may not prevent it. I don’t think Tony was even doing anything more than gently rolling backward and forward swinging his daughter – the camera just happened to capture the moment she was swinging in the air. I think there would have been less chance of Tony falling or dropping Kadence than there would be of her tripping over headfirst while running.

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  12. Pony

    Would she somehow have had less fun if she’d worn a helmet?

    All these comments about Tony knowing what he’s doing and not “letting” anything happen to her confuse me. People don’t choose to have accidents, they just happen, by accident. Stick a helmet on the kid and she can have all that healthy, outdoor, awesome, bonding with dad fun and be just a little bit safer if something does go wrong. What’s the drama about that?

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    • Kate Hunter

      Hi Pony, That’s a fair point. The kid would have been safer with a helmet. I think Bec’s post is more about how these days our default position when we see a picture is to look for what’s wrong instead of what’s great about it. Stopping to worry and fuss over safety equipment can take away from the moment. There’s a school of thought that says bike helmet laws have contributed to the decline in the number of kids riding bikes around the suburbs, just for the hell of it. They have also contributed to a decline in head injuries – but I wonder if that’s also because we’re just not out there.

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      • husband and father of 4

        my kids wont ride their bikes any more, they hate the helmets, they hate their head sweating, they’d rather not go out than ride wearing a “dumb” helmet. Oddly the helmet rule does not apply to scooters and i dont think it applies to skateboards either.

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    • Kirsten

      I completely agree with you. Looks like the four kids in the background are all wearing helmets… I don’t think it would take anything away from the fun the little girl is having to wear one and you are right, on the off-chance that something did happen, she would be safer.
      I know a lot of us grew up fine without helmets and we climbed and ran and jumped without injury but a crack to the skull on concrete at the speeds they are going is likely to do more damage than tripping over while walking.

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  13. Pingback: Tony Hawk and Daughter Skating Without a Helmet Causes a Big Stink — The Good Men Project

  14. missamoo

    Tony Hawk is amazeballs, and I’m 38. He is a pro and not into risking his or anyone else’s lives. People need to relax

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    • hmmmm

      Say that to the parents watching over their beloved children on the nuero ward of any hospital. Why condone behaviour that at the very least is ‘risky’ and can so easily be altered to avoid ‘that split second moment’. Not to mention the fact that some of these ‘experts’ are role models to so many people who adore them. what an amazing opportunity to spread a ket message. An opportunity lost.

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      • S

        How many of those parents can pull a 900 on a skateboard? For him to get that good as skating, he had to get that good at falling. He wouldn’t be where his is if he didn’t have those split second reflexes. Cut the man some slack already.

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  15. The Tip Master

    You know what we didn’t have helmets when I was 4.

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    • hmmm...

      No. But we had more brain injuries.

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  16. Kim

    This was not even worth reading. Dads do silly things all the time. He is spending time with his kid. End of discussion. No one was hurt. Get a life and take your pitchforks elsewhere.

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    • Kris2040

      Mums do silly things too…

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  17. Leon

    Tony Hawk is, and always will be COOL! As I’ve previously reported, we are being hi-jacked by a Nanny State wanting to look after us and tell us what to do at every turn. Time to rebel people!

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  18. Alex

    I think Tony Hawk actually came out and said: ‘you’re more likely to fall over walking on the sidewalk than I am when skating with my daughter’ – or something along those lines. To him, the level of skating he’s doing in these photos is as easy as walking! The chances of stacking are minimal.

    I totally wish Tony Hawk was my Dad for a day.

    That being said, Steve Irwin was way out of line. He might be ‘croc smart’, but its still a dangerous animal that could snap at any time.

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  19. Ananymouse

    He’s the expert in this situation. Arguably the greatest skateboarder of all time.

    My partner and I have spent the evening doing a few laps of the back paddock…. Me on a little scooter, with my 2 year old daughter, my partner on my TTR250 with our 4 year old son. No helmets.
    Certainly not something I consider risky. In fact, it was awesome fun, the kids thought so too. I’m sure some parents would be horrified, but frankly, they can bash it!

    Lighten up people, just because it’s not what we’d do, or the way we would parent, or a risk we would take doesn’t make it wrong or unacceptable.
    Enough with the judgment.

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  20. Child of the 70's

    Lucky Kadence. My dad taught me how to body surf. One a year. At Christmas. Not an expert. Dumped on many occasion. No idea about surf safety, or rips. Now that was scary stuff!

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  21. distracted

    It immediately reminded me of the Steve Irwin incident too, and I was just as outraged for Tony that so many self-righteous people were telling him what was safe, just like I was for Steve.

    Just because people know that they wouldn’t trust themselves on a skateboard with their little daughter, doesn’t mean Tony Hawk can’t be trusted. He’s probably spent more time on a skateboard than any of us have eating hot dinners. I would let him on a skateboard with my 6 month old – not to say that anyone should be making the same choice, but I wouldn’t feel at all stressed by that.

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  22. Anon58

    I love you Bec. You crack me up.

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  23. fifi-lulu

    Tony Hawk is 44? This is the most shocking bit of the article.

    Anyhow, look at his face, his is concentrating pretty hard. I’m pretty sure he would do everything in his power to ensure his daughter had a safe ride.

    As for the Irwins, I still find the croc image shocking, but then again, I’ve checked recently and Bob Irwin and his neck seem fine.

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  24. my thoughts

    I’ve been called a bad parent because I let my partner take my kids on his dirt bikes & they get their own mini bikes at 5. Although I do insist they wear their safety gear – helmet, boots etc…but a motor bike is a bit faster than a skateboard.

    They also go on the farm tractors & 4 wheelers, they each have ridden (or sat on) a scooter or skateboard from an early age and to the horror of some I even let them climb trees.

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    • Lozzy

      My dad used to take us for a spin on the back of his motorbike without helmets, he also used to hold the seats of our bike while we rode up our road WHILST HE WAS DRIVING THE CAR! As a parent these thinGs terrify me and I cannot believe mum let us. We loved it, we had no fear and we never got hurt.. times have changed.

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    • jane

      Ive been called a bad parent for enrolling my kids in chess club, math tutoring, piano and violin lessons in their spare time. Should they be wearing wrist braces to protect from repetitive stress syndrome? Please.
      People should mind their own business before hurling judgement…

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  25. Megan

    Love it!
    At first I thought this was going to be an article ripping Tony Hawk for his actions (I’m 28 and now feel slightly more youthful as I know who he is… Thanks Mammamia!!).
    I agree… People should mind their own business. Another case of those in the public eye being expected to live perfect and highly scrutinised lives.

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  26. Lou

    Using this analogy, surely professional car racers should be allowed to drive around with their kids unbelted, cause you know they are experts?!?!?!

    Don’t care who you are…..No ones infallible, I work with brain injured people……they have very hard lives….A lot have to live out their days in nursing homes…..

    Sorry Bec, but for me…….agree to disagree…..

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    • neola

      But race car drivers do wear seatbelts!

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      • Lou

        I think you are missing the point……Yes professional drivers wear sealtbelts…. but I am saying Tony is using the excuse that he is a professional so in his down time he/his daughter don’t require helmets…Could not the same be said for professional drivers…..
        Tony can do what the heck he likes, he is an adult making adult choices…….but he has a duty of care to his daughter in this type of situation I believe…

        Yes, I know life is there to enjoy and part of that is taking the odd risk…..In my work in disability we regularly have to weigh up our clients “dignity of risk” with our ‘duty of care”……..and in this situation I would have to say…..

        Enjoy a ride on the skateboard, surely strapping on a helmut isn’t taking away from the thrill that much and if something unforeseeable happens I can sleep at night knowing I put some precautions in place.

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    • becsparrow

      Hi Lou

      I’ve been thinking about your comment all night. I agree and disagree with you, I guess.

      I think driving is different because there are other cars on the road and the unpredictability factor goes through the roof.

      But what we can’t see in that photo is if Tony and his daughter were alone (I assume they were) and I suppose if it was a skatepark he knew like the back of his hand then he was safe.

      We also can’t see how fast they were going and all that kind of thing.

      But I take your point.

      I just feel we live at a time when we are all very quick to jump on others and label them “bad parents” …. Parenting, every day, is about taking calculated risks and making judgement calls. Some wrong. Some right. But most of us are just doing our best.

      Thanks for your comment though, Lou. It all adds to the discussion.

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      • Lou

        Hey Bec……feeling quiet spesh that you replied to my post. In a totally non stalker way of course ; )

        The way I see it you didn’t willingly put your child next to the toilet brush and watch him lick it and were probably mortified at the thought….
        I too am definitely no parental expert and have had my 20 month old lock herself in the bathroom while I changed her sister…..I had to call out the fire brigade…….again it wasn’t my intent….and I learned a lesson.

        The thing that mostly grates with me I guess is part of his huge success means he is also a role model for young kids/ teens etc. By putting those pictures on instagram he will make quite the impression on them no doubt……
        Finally, working with brain injured people I wish others could see how one moment can change your world completely……My client is in a nursing home has been, since he was 21….He is incontinent ,is feed through a peg, non-verbal and in a wheelchair…..

        This is why this picture makes me shudder……..Not one brain-injured person thought they would be in that situation either.

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  27. Billy T Maims

    Is anyone else seeing the glaring irony is posting a long article about how the world thinks someone is a shit parent (including the author’s paraphrasing of the world’s reaction) but then saying they are minding their own business. Bec, I don’t think ‘mind my own business’ means what you think it means.

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    • yup.

      Awesome. totally agree.

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  28. charliemama

    I discovered my 2 and 1/2 yo daughter needed a helmet for her razor scooter when we went for a walk with a friend and her two kids (who had helmets) whoops! In my day, you barely wore a helmet when riding a bike (even as kids) and almost never wore a seatbelt in the backseat of a car…. probably why I din’t have the reflex.

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  29. Courtney

    I saw a video of Tony with his new baby (maybe a few months old back in 2009?) skating without helmets.
    I couldn’t disagree more with you Bec, for the first time ever. His not a shit parent for not using helmets and he right in saying that he won’t fall off.

    Let him be.

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    • charliemama

      did you read this article to the end? Bec clearly says she thinks judging him is silly :-)

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  30. Kate

    It’s interesting that there is such an uproar when someone in the west is seen with their children not wearing a seat belt or helmet, and in so many other countries it is common place for several people (including young children) to be riding on one motorbike without a helmet on, or several people in one car and no seat belts.

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    • Kate Hunter

      We just had a fab week in Vanuatu and my kids (not v. experienced) rode horses bareback, without helmets. I signed no waivers. My heart was in my mouth, but they agreed it was the best holiday of their little lives.

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  31. Sally

    It’s TONY HAWK. Even I know he is the BEST skater in the world. I endanger my children more by letting them cook with me, or taking them to the public pool.
    Let’s celebrate a Dad being involved in his child’s life- she’s clearly having a ball and that’s the end of it. Merry Christmas Tony Hawk and well done!

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  32. becsparrow

    Thanks for all this terrific comments guys. I, of course, left out the most important bit … here we have a dad spending one-on-one time with his daughter. Outside. Fresh air. Having fun.

    That’s really the best thing about those photos. The look on Kadence’s face.

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    • beautystylemag

      Of course we know who Tony Hawk is, and those shots look amazing. How happy does she look? Love your story, Bec!

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    • Sas Battine

      Exactly! She’s not sitting inside playing one of the thousand Tony Hawk skating video games, there’s no harm done here. I’d be stoked if my Dad wanted to take me skating, especially if it was Tony Hawk!

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  33. Helmets all round

    I don’t think the way other people parent there kids is anyone’s business unless the kiddies are being neglected/abused and I doubt Tony’s daughter is neglected in anyway, infact she is probably very blessed! In saying that I would not let my daughter on a skateboard with my hubby without a helmet even if he was Tony Hawk, but that’s just me… If I had my way my daughter will be wearing a helmet from the moment she starts to crawl (I’ll try and avoid being that paranoid though) 

    People in the public eye/on social media will be judged by anyone and everyone thankfully most of them are so used to it they ignore it! Tony’s daughter looks very happy and so does he…. Im sure he’s wife is standing on the sidelines holding a helmet and pair of shoes and yelling at them to stop!!

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  34. Petal

    My husband used to ride around with our children on our mini bike (I must admit, they would wear a helmet.) My daughter rode it solo when she was 6. Be damned if anyone told me this was bad parenting. The look of joy and happiness when they used to ride around with their dad was priceless.

    Leave Tony Hawk alone. At least he’s spending time with his child.

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  35. TC

    He is a “professional” skater, the best in the world! – he has more chance of tripping over and hurting her walking in the street with her than on a skate board – funny no one said anything when he used to do this with his sons years ago but helicopter parents are doubling in their size!

    I completely agree – it’s NONE OF OUR BUSINESS!!! He’s a professional and this is his job!

    And for the record – she can already just about skateboard on her own! This is what she’s grown up with.

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    • Ella

      Are there more helicopter parents, or is it because she is a girl? I dont think its conscious, but everyone does seem way more protective of/precious about girls than boys!

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    • Lou

      Sorry TC but when you post on a social media you are inviting comment the good and the bad perhaps it wasn’t around when his sons were younger?!?…..”Helicopter parenting” is thrown around quicker than the speed of the bloody rotor blades……This isn’t helicopter parenting its COMMON SENSE!

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  36. sniff

    Yes, clearly it is wonderful that Kadence is getting to spend quality time with her dad. Yes, clearly she is having the time of her life. I also don’t doubt for a second that the guy is thisclose to flawless in his technique. But would any of that be any less true if she wore a helmet? Accidents happen, Arton Senna was an expert Formula One driver, it didn’t make him immortal.

    And yes having a global Twitter following means that Tony Hawk gets his parenting critiqued but a huge number of people, but I have a similar reaction when mates on Facebook post pictures of their kids riding dirt bikes without safety gear. And for the record I don’t believe it makes him a bad parent. I just think his decision to let her ride without a helmet was one I wouldn’t make for my kids.

    Now excuse my while I take off my Perfect Parent hat and go make my daughter a Nutella sandwich. ;-)

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  37. calamityjane

    I never felt safer as a little girl than wen I was with my dad – and look at her – she is so relaxed and loving every minute of that. I’m jealous, that’s as close as you’re gonna get to flying!

    As others have said, it’s TONY HAWK.

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  38. SOphie

    I am pretty protective with chilren but I thought this was awesome. She was having an amazing tikme and he’s being a hands-on dad. Great article Bec x

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  39. BecomingMum

    Aw Gawd Bec you and me should have an e-coffee one day. I absolutely love you and reading all your posts.

    I – we have all had ‘lousy parent’ moments. We just don’t instagram, facebook or twitter them.

    http://motherhoodhearld.blogspot.com.au/

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  40. amyaims

    The world thinks youre a bad parent? Ummmm no. i definitely do not. As people have mentioned he is the worlds best skateboarder and is highly unlikely to fall off and more likely to fall over while walking. My parents pushed me down ski slopes to teach me how to ski with NO HELMET -SHOCK HORROR! This is why kids these days have no guts and drive, because they are being wrapped in cotton wool! Kids will fall and get hurt in all kinds of situations, but this is definately not one of them. If it was a random skater guy with his daughter maybe, but Tony Hawk, No.

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  41. Mumtotwoboys

    Bec I could not agree more. You never fail to put exactly what I am thinking into beautiful words. Back off all you perfect parents who never do anything wrong…I hope one day you let your child leave the house!!

    Tony hawk’s daughter looks like she’s having an awesome time skating with her dad :-)

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  42. Susan Farr

    Poor old Steve thought he was ok with the stingray too, no one can anticipate the outcomes of their actions.

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    • Kris2040

      FEAR ALL THE THINGS!!!!

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      • Libberabbit

        Awesome, this is my new favourite saying!

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    • Starlite

      no one knows what’s around the corner. Unexpected, out of the blue things happen to people everyday. You could be sitting in the park, reading a book, and a tree branch can fall on you. Live life to the fullest I say, cause you just never now when your time is up.

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  43. kadriye

    Frankly the helmet wasn’t the first thing I noticed.
    First was that kid looks happy! Second was where are her shoes? No way my kids would be allowed near a skate park without shoes!
    Then I noticed the lack of helmets and thought it was a little irresponsible of him.
    It is his child however and his right to parent as he chooses.

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    • pinky pie

      Where are her shoes???? Probably in mums hands or on the ground.

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      • Kris2040

        Probably in her room – they’re at home!

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  44. Jess88

    I can’t believe that anyone would be up in arms about Tony Hawke skating with his girl, the guy is the greatest skateboarder in the world, that kid is so safe with him. He’s also a responsible parent. I saw a doco on him and there was some footage of his boy skating on his own at about 7 or 8, he’s been skating since he could walk and was pulling some crazy tricks, but he was completely decked out in safety gear while he was doing it. I highly doubt his daughter was at risk at any time while she was on that board with him. Although the footage of Steve Irwin bringing Robert into the croc enclosure makes me cringe – support the kids neck!!

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    • Dee

      Totally agree. I’m in my 40s and never skateboarded but known who Tony Hawk is for a long time. “Gleaming the Cube” anyone. To say that his daughter was in any real danger is ridiculous.
      He’s an expert. Nothing like the Steve Irwin thing at all. There he was dealing with a wild animal that could have done anything.

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    • ali

      I totally agree with the whole Irwin/Bob/crocodile incident…it was the unsupported neck of the 4 week old bub that got me more than the croc

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      • ANONYMOUS

        Completely agree with that neck thing! and if these people had actually witnessed Tony Hawk for longer than a trick or two they would realise how talented he is! Skating is easier for him than walking! Unlike Bam margera/Brandon Novak, he made his money for his skill, not joking around falling/hurting himself.

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  45. Lisa

    Made my day- I couldn’t agree more!!

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  46. Anonymous

    My sister inlaw feeds her primary kids cramp morning , noon and night. Frozen pizza for dinner, maccas, fish and chips, etc. You get the drift. They are overweight and sluggish, and sometimes I want to but in and say hey this is child abuse but I zip it. The sad thing is her both kids are now at primary school and kids are beginning to tease them behind their back and call them fatties. All because mum is too lazy to cook them wholesome food.

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  47. Cordeline

    I know he’s on wheels but given his talent on them, he is probably just as stable on a skateboard as on foot. So really, him swinging his daughter about
    like that is only similar to us whirling out kids around out on the footpath. And we do that without putting helmets on them.

    I looked at those photos before reading the article and didn’t even notice the absence of helmet.

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    • peppy

      Couldn’t agree more. The man is strong, fit and exceptionally talented on a skateboard. He’s probably far less likely to drop his daughter than the majority of us who aren’t as fit, and wouldn’t think twice before swinging a kid around!

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  48. Bex

    If it makes you feel any better Bec, the toilet is apparently cleaner than the kitchen sink.
    So he can probably go for the toilet brush, but dont let him near the kitchen cloth!

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  49. Rachael

    Lol that’s exactly what I think when I see it!!!

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  50. Jody

    You can tell by the photo he is completely focused on what he is doing. He is not even looking at the camera and the hold he has on his girl is firm. I think she looks like she is having the time of her life and he looks like he knows what he is doing.

    I cracked my head open putting the star on my christmas tree… all by myself!

    Should have worn a helmet!

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