Tiger Challenge

The Tiger Challenge yesterday made me proud and grateful.

Proud of my son and grateful to the wonderful group of people known as the Children's Instructors.

You see, about 5 months ago I was about to pull him out of the Black Dragons. Lack of interest, attention and even respect but he insisted he wanted to stay. I instead, removed myself from the floor and let the other Instructors do their thing.

Where my son lacks focus and attention he makes up for in energy and personality so I was not sure how he would improve so i would wait and see... but I would have to say that yesterday was a direct product of his Instructors’ hard work.

Yesterday started out rough for my son, he lost out on a competition that brought him to tears as he tried to hide in the corner. A few consoling words from mom brought him back but now he was visibly upset and unsure of himself.

I let him be and he continued on.

Two Divisions later, I saw something in him I had not seen before. He pulled himself together, his determination and focus came from someplace I didn't know he had and he preserved to do his very best for his next competition.

He won a gold.

It came from him and him alone. It was his hard work and it was his focus.

I could not have been more proud, not because he won a medal but because he grew 10 feet tall that moment.

I have been struggling with his ability focus on school work and other skills for some time now but these moments of focus and calm seem to come more frequent now and for that I am excited.

Strictly speaking as a mom, as a parent, in only a few short months the lessons taught in his class are starting to emerge. I’m not talking about the kicks and punches but the life skills.

The Tiger Challenge was a great opportunity for me to witness those skills that are blooming within him. And for that, a thanks to all.