Hi-YA!

I’ve been wanting to put this boy into some kind of martial arts class for months, as he has LOTS of interest in it and LOTS of energy and LOTS of just-want-to-punch-it-for-punching’s-sake aggression.  Not malicious, nothing personal, he just likes to punch and kick – similar to Cinderella’s love for dancing.  Let’s get this boy an outlet, and quick!             

But I wasn’t very quick.  Calling and setting up appointments is not a strength of mine, nor is doing research and finding things like karate studios in our area.  With those powers combined, I am NEGLIGENT MOTHER!  Queen of Procrastination and Master of Good Intentions!

And Doodle had to content himself with the “creative movement” class held at the same place & just after C’s ballet class.  It helped –a little- with his tendency to use siblings as “qui-YA” targets, and life goes on…

Until I found a flyer in the mail for a TaeKwonDo studio opening in the area.  $20 for 2 private lessons, 1 group class, and the outfit included, too!  Wha?   I had thought we’d be paying about that much just for the little white-belt suit.  COOL!  I called them right then, and “Doodleson”  had his first lesson with Master Kim last Friday. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was, and I’m not even a four year old boy who has been looking forward to this his whole entire life.  Doodle looked like I had just told him Christmas was coming twice this year when I showed him the flyer.  When we arrived at the appointed time and found Master Kim to be a black-belted ninja dude looking like someone out of a Jacky Chan film – complete with a thick Asian accent… I think Doodle’s jaw hit the floor.

I also cannot begin to tell you how embarrassed I was when Master Kim helped me get the babies out of the car – which means he had the privilege of seeing, yes, our WMV (the World’s Messiest Vehicle)… But I think that might not be a crucial element of this story. 

Anyway.  Doodle was in awe, to put it mildly.  But being the outgoing, adventure-loving, spunky kid that he is, the awe of this new situation did not send him flying into a shell of wall-flower-ness as it would have his mother back in the day.  Nope, not Doodle.

He was focused.  He was motivated.  He was determined.  He tried with his entire little four year old self to “perform with exactness every command given” him.  Cinderella and Eagle sat totally captivated, just watching this new and exciting adventure unfold.  This was better than any movie, ever.  Doodle tried to copy everything he was shown, and it was beyond adorable.  I’ve never seen anything as cute and funny as Doodle was trying to get his little arms and legs to do what his teacher did. 

My heart was a melted little puddle of motherly pride and joy.  I spent the whole half hour in that state where you’re so happy you have to laugh.  He is JUST SO CUTE!  Really.  I know I’m biased, but everyone else thinks so too, because the minute you get to know this boy, you enter that “biased” Doodle-loving club.  Even Superhero Ninja Master Kim is in that club now.  I could tell.

So yeah.  It went well.  There was one little conversation I want recorded because I enjoyed it too much to allow myself to forget it later.  This was a seriously happy moment for me.  Can you imagine how my heart thrilled with Master Kim’s very first interaction with Doodle?  Well of course you can’t.  You don’t know what happened yet. 

I shall tell you.

“Now Doodleson, I make you a deal,” he said, “I will teach you TaeKwonDo, to punch -

HIYA! <insert impressive, lighting-fast punch to the right>,

and to kick-

HIYA! <insert chest-level kick to the left, and imagine Doodle’s eyes open in utter amazement.  Master Kim has now achieved SuperHero status to one little boy.>

“But you will have to promise me somesing.

“If I teach you to punch, do you think it would be okay if you punch you sistah?  Or you little brothahs?  Or you mom?”

Doodle shakes head.  Pretty sure his jaw is still somewhere on the floor.

“Doodle say “NO SAH!”

“No sir!” says Doodle.

“Or how about small animahs?  If I teach you to kick, would it be okay to go and kick a puppy then?”

Doodle shakes head again.

“Doodle say, “NO SAH!”

“No sir!” says Doodle.

“So,” Master Kim kneels down so he can be eye-to-eye with Doodle, “I will teach you TaeKwonDo if you will promise you will never punch or kick you sister, you brothahs, you friends, or animahs.  Because if you do, I can not teach you TaeKwonDo any more. 

“Do you promise, Doodleson?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Doodle say, “YES SAH!”

“Yes soy.”

“I can’t hear you, Doodleson, say “YES    SAH!”

“Yes SOY!”

“Okay.”  I love how Master Kim goes from totally serious and intimidating ninja to smiling, happy, loving teacher in the blink of an eye.  This guy is perfect for Doodle.  Absolutely perfect. 

And after that little conversation took place, in my head I’m singing and dancing, praising Master Kim for solving my problem.  That’s a lot to ask of a little boy… especially a little boy who’s been used to going on time out every day for using his big, bossy sister as a punching bag.  But if it works… Oh my.  That was so worth $20.

When the lesson was over, Master Kim talked briefly with me while my three mobile munchkins ran around crazy like. 
“He is only foh?”

“Yes SIR!” (Okay, I didn’t say that.  But I totally thought it.)

“He is so machur.”

-Took me a few times to figure out he was saying mature.  I love this guy.-

“He so focused and coohdinated, like six oh seven yee old.” 

-Aw, I thought, I bet you tell that to every mom of a four year old as focused and determined as an adult… have I mentioned I really love this guy?-

PS: Guess what!  “Doodleson” actually did it!  He kept his promise!  He refrained from punching, hitting, and kicking anyone all week long!  It was amazing!  I was walking on air all morning Friday, half in disbelief, half giddy from glee…

Right up until two hours before yesterday’s lesson, if you can believe it.  I almost cried.  He was SOOOO close!  And oh my, how sweet was it to see his instant and deep remorse.  He was devastated.  He didn’t want to go to his class if it meant telling Master Kim what happened.  And, no, I assured him, he couldn’t lie about it.    I also told him we had to go because we told him we’d be there at a certain time.

“You go, Mommy, and tell him what happened.  And tell him I’m sowwy.”

“Good idea, Doodle.  I’ll tell him you’re sorry, and then I’ll come back and tell you what he says.  I think he likes you a lot, so maybe he’ll let you have another chance.  Maybe.  We’ll see.”

Doodle looked quite relieved at this plan. 

And Master Kim did indeed give him another chance, in case you were wondering.  Doodleson even got his uniform yesterday, and he was just a little bit happy about it.

So was I.