Tag: kids

children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting, Taekwondo

True Story

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The following is a true account of the events that took place during Full Speed’s black belt graduation.

Full Speed brought his ‘A’ game. His punches and kicks were on fire.

His black belt form was crisp and precise.

He did take a beating during sparring. So much in fact T.Puzzle turned to me and said, “Full Speed sure is getting a beat-down.” True, this is all true.

Fortunately part of the black belt spirit is persevering even when you want to give up. Full Speed pulled it together and his nunchuk demo was fierce.

Then it was time for the belt ceremony. I mean this is the big time, right? This is what it all comes down to, this one, bright shining moment and…

guess who needed to go potty right then?

Little T.Puzzle. Oh, dear sweet T.Puzzle, how I love you so and your extremely inconvenient potty moments.

Mad Dog says, “He’s five, send him on his own. He can do it.”

My Mommy Instinct reached a five-alarm status but I didn’t want to miss a minute of the black belt ceremony. I squashed down my doubt and reluctantly sent him on his way.

An eternity passes and I insist, “Mad Dog, go check on T.Puzzle.” My tone was not necessarily pleasant and seemed to adequately convey my dismay (a.k.a.-Mom was about to lose her mind).

Guess who had locked themselves in the bathroom and was reaching a complete meltdown status?

Strike two for T.Puzzle.

This is where my life flashed before my eyes and I gave up hope that we could celebrate Full Speed’s achievement together (or that anything in my life with these two boys will ever go as I plan them in my head).

However, we didn’t give up. We all kept our black belt attitudes and Mad Dog calmly coached a hysterical T.Puzzle through the unlocking process (thankfully, there was so much noise in the studio, the near Great Bathroom Disaster of 2011 went largely undetected).

The ceremony was saved, Full Speed’s black belt rewarded and T.Puzzle lived to see the light of day again.

Awesome job, Full Speed!
children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Black Belt Anxiety

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This afternoon Full Speed will test for his black belt.  He had the option to break boards (which a majority of graduates choose) or do a solo weapons demonstration.  He chose the latter therefore I’m choosing to freak out.  I feel as nervous for him as if I had to do the demo myself (granted my flying high kick is superb but no one needs to see that).  As for him?  He is as cool as can be.  I think I have more to learn from this kid than I will ever be able to teach him.  He is fearless, he lives in the moment and when he wants something he fights for it.

Good luck, Full Speed!

Full Speed breaking a board for a graduation long ago at the age of 3.
children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Ninja Santa

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We had ‘Breakfast with Santa’ at Full Speed’s school.  The key is to go early and get your Santa photo before the cinnamon rolls and pancakes.  As we exited the photo area with our pictures, Full Speed spotted his principal.  He called out to her and proudly showed off his Santa photo (he later told me he KNEW Santa was the school custodian which I neither confirmed nor denied).  As she politely commented on how my boys were adorable beyond all measure and Full Speed was extraordinary in every possible way (or something like that), T.Puzzle chose this moment to take the photo, use it as a sword and try to behead Full Speed.

I’m pretty sure my boys are now a permanent part of the school’s ‘watch list’.  I’m proud to say that at least T.Puzzle showed some brilliant and precise sword maneuverings.  It’s always good to play to your strengths.

Ho, ho, ho!

children, kids, motherhood, parenting

Snowfall

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Full Speed back when snow was not his friend

The turkey is gone, thanks has been given and now it’s time for more holiday cheer.  The positive to living in a warmer climate is that there is no snow for Christmas.  The negative is that there is no snow for Christmas.  It is awfully hard to drum up Christmas spirit when you’ve sent your boys to school in shorts all year.

I saw an ad on television where there were mounds and mounds of snow.  It brought back many midwestern memories and I was reminded of how much Full Speed hated snow as a little one.  When I would pick him up from preschool during winter the reports from teachers, besides the obvious won’t-sit-still-for-a-moment ones, were how he would cry in misery when it was time for outside recess.  If Mad Dog and I would attempt to pull him on a small sled around our yard, he would yelp in frustration as tears would freeze on his tiny, unhappy face.  Looking back I can actually say that the memory of it is kind of sweet.  Living through it was awful and yet time has dulled the sharp edges of Full Speed’s snow-covered tantrums.

What I realized is that if I can finally find the humor in Full Speed’s snow experience, maybe whatever challenges I face with him today will have the same result.

I guess into each life a little snow must fall and it’s up to us to find a way to shape it into something lighthearted…eventually.