Anything is possible Tasmanian Devil Girl

I love the fact that my daughter and I train together. I affectionately nicknamed her Tasmanian Devil Girl on the mats. We have been blessed with some of our best memories because of jiu jitsu. Training together and going to seminars and attending Girls in Gis events and our Team SMAA open mats has given us countless hours of bonding time. Jiu jitsu allows us to push each other, talk to each other openly and support each other. I love that. The thing that I don’t love is watching her struggle. Lately I’ve been watching her feel defeated and broken. I feel helpless not being able to help her. Not having the right words to say to comfort her. It’s hard being a Mom sometimes. I want to protect her from everything bad in this world. On the mats I want to protect her too. I don’t want her to get hurt emotionally or physically. So, it’s a fine line we walk as jiu jitsu Moms. How do we let go enough to let them grow, but still protect them when we need to? I guess we will figure it out together. In the meantime, I will continue to support her and encourage her and even push her. I will pick her up from her first part-time job and help teach her how to drive and when she lets me, I will teach her to master the kimura from half guard and escape from side control even when it’s a 200 pound sweaty dude. And one day, when she’s ready, the bread and butter choke will be waiting for her. So, all you other Moms and Dads out there training with your kids, what do you do when you see your kids struggling on the mats? My wish for everyone today is peace, love and great Jiu Jitsu!

Life is a Journey

I took some unplanned vacation days last week.  I needed some down time.  I needed to be alone and sleep and think and do some Mommy things.  I did not train jiu jitsu at all last week.  My mind was just not right.  I may not train this week either.  I have a lot going on with the kids this week and a lot going on at work and I just don’t know if I am up to it mentally.  Tonight I will go do cardio kickboxing.  On Wednesday, my daughter and I will go look for her a new party dress.  She’s been invited to her first Quinceañera (for you gringos out there, that’s a birthday party for a 15 year old girl).  It’s a big deal and she’s got to have a new dress (or at least that’s what she’s convinced me of….gullible Mom here).  She’s got another one to go to this summer, so this dress is going to have to do for both parties…because this Mom is not that gullible.  So I hope this week finds everyone right where they need to be…happy and healthy and content.  Life is a journey, not a destination.  <--That’s my new mantra.  It reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little things.  It reminds me not to sweat the small stuff.  It reminds me that I don’t have to keep up with anyone else but myself.  It reminds me that this isn’t a race to the finish line and that I can go as slow as I need to.   It reminds me that it’s okay to be slow.  It reminds me that my family is the most important thing, and I’m slowing down so I don’t miss out on the important stuff…like dress shopping with my daughter for 15 year old birthday parties!  :D

A Walk Down Memory Lane

I thought maybe it was time for a little walk down memory lane.  I was going through some of my pictures and I was happy to see my kid’s progress and mine over the last couple of years.  It was a good reminder to me that I have come a long way.  My kids have come a long way.  We are not as good as we are going to be, but we are better than we used to be (I never get tired of saying that).  Enjoy!  :D

This was my son's first belt test.  December 2009.  This little guy and those big guys made me fall in love with jiu jitsu before I even stepped on the mat.  Thank you!

This was Emily's first belt test and Ben's second.  March of 2010.  They were clowning around for me after the belt test.  That was a fun day!

 Emily gets her gray belt.  It is June 2010.  She was a happy girl that day!

This was my first belt test.  Ben got his yellow belt and I got my first stripe that day.  December 2010.  I will never forget how proud I felt that day.  I thought I could conquer the world!

Here's all us Elite girls after the belt test.  Forever bonded by the first belt test experience.  It's like going to boot camp together!!

And what's better than one stripe, well two more stripes.  April 2011 I attend my second belt test.  That belt test was even better than the first one.  They really are a celebration.  There's nothing quite like the experience.

Emily gets her yellow belt.  It's July 2011.  She is so happy that day.  She had missed several belt tests because of band commitments and she was ecstatic to finally be asked to go and receive her yellow belt.  I was one proud Mama that day!!

We've had lots of great moments in between and after all this great stuff happened.  My kids have competed and I've competed and we've gone to some great seminars and there's always Girls in Gis.  It's been a wonderful journey so far.  I do have to remind myself quite often that it's not about the belts or the stripes, but the journey.  Often we are discouraged when we haven't belt tested in a long time, we often see it as a negative.  But it's not.  It doesn't mean we haven't gotten better.  It doesn't mean our coaches don't see our progress.  It just means that this part of our journey needs a little more work, and when the time is right we will belt test again.