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To help the kids "over come" sit down and let them vent a while about how they felt and their fears now. Letting them share the scare will help them move past and still want to join you.
I took my two sons (9 and 13) and one of their buddies (also 9) fishing today. The lake we were on had 4 wheelers on it a week ago. It's been warm here-60 degree highs for 4 days. An adult friend and I had fished this lake 2 days previous and thought it was very safe-lots of clear ice. Today I saw 6-8 inches of ice so we ventured out. We had fished for an hour when I decided to move around more. My 330 lb frame was walking across the ice, when over the noise of my bubbler and the chair I was dragging, the ice sounded suddenly different. Next thing I know I am looking up through the water at light. I untangled from vexi line and tried to crawl out forward but the ice kept breaking. The boys were closer to shore and saw me, they all ran towards me. I told them to get a rope (which I hadn't brought and we didn't have). Next I remember trying to float on my back and lever up on the ice, head on one side of the open water and feet on the other and roll onto solid ice-didn't work. Then I then turned around to where I had come from and tried to crawl out but the multi tool in my chest pocket caught the bottom edge of the ice and stopped me. I ditched the multi tool. I reached down to unlace my boots and but they were double knotted tightly and I didn't think I could unlace them, so I gave up on that. I tried to crawl out again from where I had come from but I still felt resistance on my shoulders. I fell back in the water and took the straps off my bibs. By then my 9 year old had relay raced with his friend back to the Suburban and returned with a 2' bungee cord. I told him to throw it to me, he did-both ends. I threw it back to him and explained I needed one end and he needed to pull me out. He handed me one end and pulled me out to my waist. I told him to keep pulling. He then yelled, "A little help here!" Then his buddy helped drag me back about 15 ft across the ice. I then sat up, took off my coveralls and boots and walked back to shore. My 12 year old had run ahead to start the car and turn on the seat warmer. My phone was soaked and dead so we beelined for home so my wife wouldn't worry. The whole fam is in shock and I have learned something. I was bulletproof and I thought sensible before this. I will bring a rope, not fish alone, and only fish when it is cold and there are other people already out from now on. Scott
