Karate

This season's extracurricular activities have finally showed themselves to us - the boys are both in skating (more to come later) and Karate.  It is nice that they both go to the same classes and so we are not shuttling here and there but to one place. And, presumably they are both occupied, so we can use that time as relax-down time.  Though, we spend most of the time staring at the guys because they are fun to watch.

Joel Andrew enjoys Karate.  He listens to his teacher, and within a few classes was awarded his first stripe on his belt.  He wants to do good and wants to learn more.  He keeps repeating numbers and positions to me, I think he is really enjoying it.  He especially loves the goofy times in class.  This is a good fit for him in terms of learning how to work for something, and reaching a goal.  Before he would get frustrated with activities, say they are too hard and close down.  Karate is great, there are small tangible steps and he has yet to get frustrated, though I am sure he will.  But, he is learning to work through that which is nice.

James is quite a different story.  Karate will be good for him because he needs discipline.  He has a hard time paying attention or listening, really.  Listening is not his strong suit.  I have to remember he is 21 months younger than Joel and yet he is in the same class as him so we need to cut him some slack.  He does not have any black stripes on his belt yet.  I am not sure that he knows what it means.  But we are sticking it it in hopes he will learn how to listen and it will do him some good.  Worst part about James in Karate - he yells: "YES, SENSAI" to me, his daycare teacher, pretty much anyway.  I guess the is better than Yes, Sir!  ...