Perserverence

Belt testing is not usually a very stressful occasion. It comes up every three months and the boys usually just go through their basic forms, the weapon forms then break a board. The class ends with them receiving a certificate along with a new belt.  This time however was a lesson for Ben and me both.  He had such a difficult time breaking the board with the down kick. It took him several times and almost every kid had gone on around him. I was tearing up behind the camera willing myself not to break down.  It was one of the hardest things I've had to watch. Mrs. G and the kids in his class were offering encouragement each time his turn would come up as he continued to struggle.  I must say that Ben was quite a trooper.  He kept at it without getting too frustrated and when he finally broke that board everyone at the ceremony broke into applause for him.  

  

 I don't have any delusions when it comes to our kids.  I know that they aren't going to be super athletes but I was one proud mom when we left that night.  He learned what it felt like to really work for and earn a belt.  They weren't going to give it to him.  Even though I wanted to go out to the mat and break it for him myself, he had to do this on his own.  I learned just how tough that kid can really be.

That's my boy!