Much Ado About Nothing

You might not believe this... but sometimes we just hang out and play - in the playroom, with toys...

no adventure

no theme

no art project

no TV

Just plain old fashioned playing... and we love it!

Actually, we do that a lot more than sometimes... we do it a lot of times.

Yesterday morning, while Jonah was at school, Vera and I played for a really long time with this little shape sorter toy thing.  The toy was originally Jonah's - he received on his first Christmas from Grandma and the gift  - it keeps on giving!  Both kids still play with it.

Vera is really into it right now - she likes saying the colors and the shapes and trying to get them in the right place.  She also gives each piece and little hug and a kiss as they have these weird little animals on them...

It's just a little play time.  And I am so OK with that!

"Not everything is as it seems" - Mr.Miyagi

That is what Mr. Myagi tells Danielson in the movie The Karate Kid (the one from 1984) after he has him washing the car, painting, and cleaning up. Daniel wanted to learn karate... Mr. Myagi replies, "Not everything is as it seems."

Ah great wisdom for life!

My Jonah, he has a zest for life that is completely intoxicating, amazing and contagious.  He is also really really physical and often can't control himself - as in he will push, punch or use his body in an aggressive way.  He is 3.  I figured we needed to nip this in the bud.

Karate.

Jocelyn kept talking about it.  Jocelyn's mom kept suggesting it.  Nana spent an entire cab ride talking to her cab driver about it - then reported it all to me.

Then over Sukkot, my friend said she was going to a Karate interview with her son (another infectiously wonderful, smart and somewhat overzealous toddler).  She said her friend with another similarly situated son had started and it was changing their lives...

The next day I called to make our "interview" appointment at Kicks Karate at the Glen Echo location.

And our journey began.

The interview was scheduled for 30 minutes.  We were there for almost an hour.  Jonah was having none of it.  Not listening.  That is until Mr. David let him go running around the dojo... then we made a little bit of progress.

Here we are at our interview:

 

Then we started class.  We signed up for the nine month program.  They insisted that if we religiously attended twice a week for nine months - it would be a life changing experience.  They also warned us not to worry - the first few weeks would be tough.  I warned them - Jonah isn't an easy nut to crack.  He is as stubborn as a mule and his will power - it is like that of a navy seal being water boarded by the enemy - he doesn't bend!  They insisted they knew what they were doing.

 

He got his uniform and a white belt.  (The uniform is like the cutest thing I have ever seen in my entire life!!!)  He liked his uniform and his belt... but I still wasn't sure...

 

Our first class he was crying and would not let me sit with the parents.  I was with him on the mat and he was not participating... it was so not fun.  Half way through they took him to the back room crying...

 

For the next 5 classes, he did not want to do it by himself and ended up crying in the back room.  But each time he cried less.  The 4th time they invited me in the back to see him do all the moves.  The fifth class he spent part of the class in the front room. And then, in the 6th class, he did the whole class in the front room!?!?!  Three weeks and he was actually doing it and not crying.

 

WOW!  And he was excited about it. 

 

And he started teaching it to Vera (who I had been leaving home with a babysitter because I couldn't deal with the both of them at Karate...)

 

And we started practicing it at home.

 

And he started talking about getting his next belt color.

 

And most of all we were talking about FIRST TIME LISTENING!

 

That is the big thing at this Karate school.  FIRST TIME LISTENING EVERY TIME!

We need that in our house.  Somtimes, they ask the parents during class to report on the kid's listening!!!  I love that part!

 

Here are pictures from the 7th class:

 

 

Then it happened that there was going to be the belt exam.  Jonah's 9th class in karate and he was going to do his first belt exam - that's how we roll over here - go big or go home!  We signed up!

 

The exam was on a Friday early afternoon.  Unlike the regular class of about 10 kids - there were at least 40 kids there for the exam - plus parents and grandparents and siblings... it was sort of chaotic!

 

I wasn't sure how Jonah would do - but he always blows me away!

 

He did it all.  He was great!

 

AND THEY BROKE BOARDS WITH THEIR FEET!!!! One at a time, when their name was called they stood up and broke a board with their foot?!?! 

 

He got to keep his board.  He received his yellow belt.  We went out for yogurt with his buddies after the exam.

 

We came home and had Karate Shabbot with Auntie Chris and Vera and he told them ALL about it.  It was awesome.

 

And since then, now I bring Vera with me when we go to Karate.

 

Last night, we went and Jonah was back in the back room - why?

 

Because he was not listening... he was sent there with 2 of his little buddies who were also not behaving...  He is not afraid anymore.  He "hi ya"s all the time (and sometimes even to his sister...) But he also is much better at First Time Listening...some times... not every time.

 

He has successfully taught Vera everything he knows and now she walks around "hi ya"ing and "yes sir"ing as well.

 

Now, I am often screaming, "attention" at my kids when they start acting a bit crazy and they both will stand up quickly and yell back, "yes mam" - the whole thing is quite surreal...

 

It looks like I am going to raise two Karate Kids, for better or for worse...  (Vera can start when she turns 3)

 

(And it also turns out there is a dance studio right next door - we went to check it out the other day and both Jonah and Vera want to do it! Funny how one little 30 minute interview can lead you down a path of so many opportunities - as in pink tutus and tap shoes - I love it when life takes you on these twists and turns and they are the fun ones!)

 

Our journey continues, one day at a time... and not everything is as it seems!

 

THE YELLOW BELT EXAM:

 

PRACTICING FOR THE BOARD BREAKING

THINKING ABOUT THE BOARD

BREAKING IT!  FIRST TRY!

TREATS WITH OUR BUDDIES!

KARATE SHABBOT!

FINALLY VERA GETS TO GO TO KARATE TOO!  AND YES SHE MADE A FRIEND!

 

 

 

 



Time Out @ The Arboretum

And I mean that literally...

But first the original kaleidoscopey plan was to go to the National Building Museum's Play Work Build exhibit that everyone has been raving about - we even had a play date to meet there yesterday afternoon - BUT THEN IT WAS 70 DEGREES OUT!

We decided to meet our buddies at the US National Arboretum!  It was the perfect day for it - sort of.  We had lunch after school and got ourselves together.  Jonah had already had one time out on the way out of school because he sort of kicked one of his friends?!?! for no good reason.  We sat for a while in front of school until everyone left and we had some time to take some deep breaths.

Then we got home had a uneventful lunch (although Jonah did not eat much?!?!) and went to the Arboretum.  There was some traffic and en route to our play date, Jonah fell asleep in the car.  We got to the parking lot and our friends were almost there.  I made an executive decision to get Jonah up... (in hindsight probably the wrong decision...)  We walked over to where the koi pond is usually... and guess what - no koi!!!  no pond!!! it is under construction -- big fail.  Jonah and Vera literally started crying!!!  (this should have been warning sign number 3 to quit while I was ahead...).  Then our buddies arrived and we decided to head up to the columns and let the boys run around...

That sort of worked except for (1) when Jonah dunked his head into a fetid little puddle of gross water after I told him not to, (2) when Jonah pushed his sister off the edge of the waterless fountain and she fell face first onto the cement and her gum started bleeding and (3) when he started pushing his buddy.  He got a time out for all of these.  You think I would have packed it in at that point...

But Vera was having a great time (that is except for falling face first into cement - but she recovered quickly).  She also liked playing with Jonah's buddy's little baby brother, who is super cute by the way.

Jonah and his buddy did manage to play for a bit and run around quite a lot.  They had balls to kick around and they did get to enjoy basking in this December sunshine - when Jonah was not in time out that is...

The final straw came when we were taking a drink break and Jonah started in with the baby's toys... I just knew he was about to throw them in the fetid water puddle... and I was just done.  He was tired.  They were both hungry - I knew it was time to cut my losses.  He picked up the baby toy and started fighting with Vera about it and then we were really done.  I packed up and we had extremely unpleasant walk back to the car (understatement)...  but we eventually got there.

Another ride home in traffic and a big sigh of relief when we finally got home around 4.  Only three hours with the kids until I was able to steal away for my own time out and boy did I need it.  I have my Mindfulness Meditation group on Monday nights. 

As I walked to my group, I tried to clear my thoughts to get ready for my 90 minutes of mindfulness.  I couldn't.  I kept thinking about our not-so-successful adventure.  But then I realized something.  Not a huge something, but a something that made me feel much better.  Jonah was tired and hungry today.  I wanted to see my friend so I pushed the whole play date.  He needs to learn to behave better and I know he will.  But truth be told, we spent some time outside in the sun with some good friends and well there is something to be said for that.  It was far from perfect  - but it wasn't the worst time we ever had.  It just was. We'll try again another day.  Both Jonah and I (and Vera) need to keep trying to get it right - and it's the act of trying and never giving up that is truly kaleidoscopesque!

During the dharma (sharing) portion of my group we talked about a bunch of stuff.  One thing that came up was this - in addition to writing "to do" lists - we can also sometimes try to write down "to be" lists.  I really really like this idea.  As in what we want "to be" today or tomorrow.   I know that I need to try "to be" a little more in tune with Jonah & Vera.  For example, knowing when Jonah (or Vera) is too tired or hungry to go on a play date even when it might interfere with my plan to see my friend or knowing if I make a big deal about Vera walking on a ledge, Jonah is going to get jealous and push her off... I am working on all of this but I love the act of writing it down... I think I am going to try that.  I want "to be" more patient, more consistent, less anxious and happier tomorrow.

And that is the amazing thing - Jonah, Vera and I (all of us really), we all get to try again tomorrow!  What ever is on our "to do" or "to be" lists - tomorrow we get another chance at it all! 

Good Luck Everyone!

Happy Hanukah House 2.0

The house is 89% decorated for the upcoming Festival of Lights (Chanukah!).

HURRAY!!!!

 Jonah and I did lots of light hanging and other decorating tasks while Vera napped this weekend.  We brought in the big ladder (8 feet)!  Our ceilings are 10 feet!!!!  We brought up all the bins from the basement.  The kids got to play with all the Chanukah toys - most of these I bought for my niece and nephews over the years (oldest now 10) and have been passed down to my kids - so they have stood the test of time.  Vera helped sort through the bins one morning - that was fun. (see pictures below)

We are not totally done - but my anxiety has lifted and last night when it got dark and our Chanukah twinkling lights were on - we had a collective family exhale - and said, "WOW" in unison!  Go Team Bramble!

There are still some more lights to string.  The ceiling decorations need to be duct taped to the - duh - ceiling... I still need to gather up the presents and gift wrap them... but we are getting there!

And I can't forget - we did our HOLIDAY CARD!  This was a super productive weekend!  No big kaleidoscoping adventures but we got busy and it worked out just great!

Like I said GO TEAM BRAMBLE!

Seriously, it was all about teamwork!  In order to get all the lights up we came up with a crazy plan.  We bought all these little plastic white hooks hooks with the sticky backing.  They came six to a package.  Jonah and I spent 2 hours unwrapping them from the packages, separating them from each other, separating the sticky backs from other, sticking one side of the sticky backs to the hooks and then sticking the hooks to the various moldings around all our doorways and windows downstairs. In the middle of this project (Jonah sat quietly and did his job amazingly!!) as we were sitting on the floor together - Jonah separating and me sticking - he looked  at me and said - "Mommy, we are doing this just like a team.  We make a good team mommy!"  Yep, Jonah, we are a good team!  Vera, too, as she slept both days - soundly and happily while we worked hard like the ancient Maccabees!

Another point before it is time to get on with the day - THANK YOU Auntie Chris - you are part of our team too!!

The only reason we managed to do our holiday card was because Auntie Chris came over with her fancy camera.  I am not sure we will ever be able to thank Auntie Chris enough for all that she does - but Thank you!  We can not wait to celebrate this holiday season with you!

Ok everyone - it's Monday!  Let's get to it! 

DISCLAIMER: Our idea of "decorating" is a little bit nontraditional (kinda like us), we do a cheesy, kitchy, homemade version of holiday decorating and we go with it - all the way!  Think trailer park meets nursery school classroom with a detour at the dollar store - and that is our overarching design inspiration - it works for us!