Sadie was in heaven last night. She had donned her uniform pants and her National Karate T-shirt excitedly telling me that she was, “gonna march with her knees high, like a soldier”. We were getting ready to join her friends, other National Karate students, to demonstrate in our local parade here in Sartell. It had rained in the morning and more rain was projected for the evening, so I hoped her great plans weren’t going to result in her being disappointed.
When we got to the parade line-up, Sadie immediately joined her fellow students playing Simon Says under the tutelage of one of her instructors. I hoped that she could walk the whole parade route without giving up, as she is only 5 years old. As a concerned parent, fearing rain and exhaustion, I chose to walk with the marchers. Shortly before the parade began, the lead instructor arrayed the students in lines and ran through some basic instructions about the demo. Sadie seemed distracted and already wanted water, so I was prepared for her marching dreams to be dashed.
However, the parade was Sadie’s great success story. She kept up with the other students, waved to her friends along the way, and giggled when the instructors squirted water in her mouth to keep her spirits up and her thirst at bay. There was no marching with knees high. Instead, the students stopped every few blocks to show off their karate. Sadie was in the front line helping carry the banner with the other littles, and then running back to her spot to “d’strate”. By the end of the parade she was flushed and tired, but PROUD. Then the fun really began…
All the students adjourned to the local McDonalds for ice cream, provided by the school, and there was a play place! I tried to monitor and be sure she was safe, as the students were playing tag, and she’s not usually brave in the face of such chaos. However, I was impressed at the discipline the kids were practicing without any supervision. Their karate training was kicking in. I eventually found the courage to sit with the other parents who were coming to pick up their student and hanging out watching the fun. By the time we left she was soaked with sweat, hoarse from yelling at the parade and laughing in the play place, and IN HEAVEN.
My daughter can talk (and yell) and stand tall! When Hayley was born we knew there was something wrong. She had been deprived of oxygen during the birth and the doctors were unsure of the long term consequences. During her formative years she need a lot of special help and was timid and quiet. Often her teachers would tell us that they were concerned about her lack of verbal expression. Then, we found National Karate!
Hayley started taking lessons at National Karate when she was thirteen. I had misgivings, as I was pretty sure she would never be able to learn to balance on one foot, much less move in such a controlled way. Her pediatrician had been advocating for some sort of sports lessons. He suggested karate as an individual sport that develops balance, fitness, and confidence. When we started at National Karate, Hayley was very excited. She didn’t show it. Hayley rarely talked much less show emotions, but I knew she was excited because she actually smiled at the instructor and went into the classroom by herself. The instructor was kind and patient. By the end of class Hayley was actually grinning.
Three months later I was in tears at Hayley’s first promotion. My girl had learned to yell! She was standing on one foot! And, although she was pretty wobbly, she was punching with as much effort and power as the other students at the class. Even more exciting, her teachers were noticing a difference as well. She was less shy. She had begun talking in class in answer to her teachers questions and, even more importantly, to her fellow students. Her confidence in herself was growing.
I can’t wait to see how far Hayley can go. Now that she’s a National Karate student, we can see how she might overcome some of her challenges. I had been very afraid that she would never become an independent adult. She would always need some sort of help. At thirteen, with the help of her karate instructors, she has started to shed her shell. Maybe, by the time she earns her black belt, she’ll be an independent college student.