As the crow flies: Pain builds character

This January, Stasha decided it was time to start judo. Theo, of course, has been doing it for over a year and it's his main activity right now. I've really been encouraging him to stick to it, since I figure the discipline and focus is good for him, as well as being good for building character.

Stasha, last fall, decided that judo wasn't really for her, or at least, not at that moment. She swam with the swim club instead, and seemed to really do well. Her strokes improved immensely, and she had a great time. However, just as I was getting ready to sign her up for another session in January, she surprised us all by declaring that she'd rather do judo.

It's a little awkward starting partway through the season, but the club is generally happy to accomodate a few new people in January. But because I was concerned about Stasha being part of a little group, I succumbed to a fit of impulsiveness and being partly egged on by the 72 year old 4th degree black belt Mrs. Senda, I signed up to do classes with Stasha. And then I couldn't back out, because there were too many witnesses. (that's Mrs. Senda on the left)

I don't really think judo is something you really want to START at the age of 42. Six or seven is great. At that time, you're only a few years away from falling down on a routine basis since hey, you only learned to walk a little while ago. At 42, however, your every instinct is to remain upright, come hell or high water. Therefore, learning to fall, roll, and crawl seems to go against every motor skill you've developed in the last couple of decades.

Every morning after practice I ask Stasha if her muscles hurt. She always says no. Again, I admire the resiliance of youth, because I'm always a hurting unit - not to mention bruised and scabbed.