Future Karate Kids

As I have mentioned before, we recently signed Hannah and Emily up for Karate class. Emily was all gung ho, but Hannah was a bit reticent, that was, until her first class. Now she is hooked, and they are both excited about moving up in belts.

I don't usually go to Karate with them; that is Ray's one job. I take them to volleyball, basketball, doctor appointments, and pick them up from Brownies (not to mention all the other errands I have to run). But, last Tuesday, I went. With no school the next day, I had some leisure time on my hands (I'm not sure I'd call it "leisure" but I didn't feel stressed for time that night).

They stand with their backs to us facing a mirror, so it was hard for me to see what faces they were making as they practiced their moves. At one point, Hannah had moved just so, and I could get both her back and her face in the picture...

In this next picture, Emily is playing a "tag" game with this boy. I actually cropped this out of the background of a picture I took of Hannah so it's a bit blurry...

There are several instructors walking around monitoring their movements. They were great with the kids

As they master the moves (they have to demonstrate their move one-on-one with an instructor), they get a black tip on their belt. Once they have 5 black tips, they get to move to a belt with a stripe on it. Emily already had 5 black tips at this class because she has gone more than Hannah has (Hannah's physical therapy has gotten in the way). But, on this day, Hannah earned her 5th black tip, and she was so excited.

I know some people think (and have said), "Oh, you're one of those people" in reference to the different things Hannah and Emily are involved in, and I have to admit, that there are days where I feel stretched to the limit, and I can see Emily getting tired sometimes, but deep inside, I know this is good for them. I'm trying to give them opportunities to be well rounded, to be active, to have the chance to try new and different things. Right now, I have the economic capability to provide these experiences for them. It's like, I want to open the whole world up for them so they can see how much life has to offer. I'm not doing this so I can say, "My kid does..." whatever, I'm doing this so they can have a full life. I know when too much is too much. I make sure there is down time. There are days when we go nowhere. Life is about balance; right now, I feel like we are a very balanced family.