Hello, I'm back!!! Glad to see people are starting to respond. Sorry I haven't answered you I've been very sick with a cold and cough, I am barely getting back on my feet. My seven year old is having the time of his life making fun of me. "Say burrito mom" "bulito" :rofl: That type of thing you know? By the way, my new nickname isn't curious any more it's Rudolph.:shrug:
Thank you Ceicei for your post. Our instructor and I have been doing that- keeping an eye on him watching for possible burnout. I will hold off on adding anything else for now. Since my son went with his intentions to our instructor he has been getting a taste of what it's like to be "training". Let's see how long he lasts. Something tells me he'll pull through because his motivation and intensity is driven by ambition, he's always striving to be better, to be number one. I get worried that at seven he might be too ambitious.
Brad Dunne, no I did not take your post the wrong way because what you said is true there are a lot of variables out there still unknkown. That's the whole point of this thread finding out what those variables are and what do I have to do to be prepared for them. Yes I do tend to get over-excited at times. In my defense though I have been biting my tongue for months, just watching my son make the amazing progress he has day by day, week by week, month by month. This is the first time though that I am actually taking it serious- serious enough to find out what I can.
Micheal Edwards, you are entitled to your opinions whether they sound harsh or not. Here's my opinion- it sounds to me like you are jumping to conclusions based off of two little ity bitty posts that I have placed. First of all, if you knew our history of violence, of abuse, of the trauma my children and I have experienced you would know that karate started off as a need not a drug. My seven year old son has surpassed that need and has moved on, for that I am very proud of him. Second of all
I am his mother, father, aunt, uncle and grandparents with out me or his brothers my son has no one, I am very aware of what it is that I need to do because if I don't who will? you? Third of all, this thread is in regards to my sons future in karate not his life story. Since you are so concerned about my son not enjoying his life hows this? For the last two years my son has been playing soccer this year he want to play baseball. My two boys are always volunteering in some kind of fundraiser through their school or karate studio; they are very well known through out the neighborhood as "the cookie dough boys". My seven year old has the highest score on Sonic the Hedgehog Pinball game, I have the lowest. Every other weekend I allow my son to go on a playdate with his friends. I would be more than happy to take a picture of my son's room so you can see the extensive book collection he has, it's bigger than mine. Last of all, my son did not sign up for karate to make me proud he doing it because
he wants to. I had signed up his old brother first a month later a very upset five year old asked what about him. I was not going to sign him up until he was nine I thought he was too young but
he wanted it. The ten hour thing did not happen over night that was something that happened over a period of six months
he wanted more and still does. As for boundaries:
none of the above takes place until he has done his chores and homework; I recieve a weekly report from his teacher on his progress, if one thing is out of place he will not go to karate until that situation is fixed. Does that sound good enough for you? Mr Edwards in the future do not jump to conclusions without first finding out the details. Instead of making "harsh comments" why don't you ask questions? You would find life so much more pleasant to deal with not getting on peoples nerves.
MJS very true kids always want more!!! Does it ever end??? Our instructor and I will be keeping an eye on him especially now that we are "training" him to be a "CHAMPION" which also includes correcting all the little details he needs work on. My son has competion now though there's an orange belt thats saying he is the champion; on Friday it was hilarious watching them race each other for everything including drinking water.
WOOT!!! Spoken like a true parent, a lot of the stuff you said is very true, thank you! Considering the progress that my son has already made there is no way he can ever disappoint me, he has far exceeded my expectations as it is. As for telling you your wrong, it's on!!!
Blindside- I don't want to come off as rude but are you serious??? Any MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL not just EPAK will promote you to brown belt in less than two
and a half years if you deserve it; if you earned it. Lamont-"presumably"??? If you read the post carefully then you KNOW that my son is certified as a KIDS brown belt so technically as such YES he has passed his older brother. There is nothing "odd" about that. Common sense would have indicated that my son "passed" me as a comment in generalization of belt colors, I'm a green belt testing for my 3rd degree brown but since you had no way of knowing that thank you for asking.
I really do appreciate the comments and remarks that have been made. Again I want to explain that this is to get information, to find out what the unknown variables are out there; not for now but for my sons future. I am feeling as though I am not getting my questions right. Like I am not expressing myself correctly. Did you know that Ray Charles was seven when he started playing the piano? Do you think he would have been the person that he became without the support of his mother? So lets try it this way: Are there any competitors out there that can answer a few questions? How old were you when you first said wow I want to do that?How old were you when you actually started to compete? When did you just know? When you told your parents did they accept your decision? How long did it take for people to take you seriously? When did your parents become aware that this is what you want to do? And when they finally came around what did you do to start the path your on? please? Thank you!!