MAMA: Adventures in Martial Arts and Motherhood

I am writing this post from the Kings County Supreme Court, where I am currently awaiting jury duty. Meaning I am sitting in a large, overly air conditioned room, waiting for my name to be called and pondering some of life's big questions, such as "How long will the battery on my laptop last?", "Is it safe to check my email on the public wifi in the courthouse?", "How much of Game of Thrones can I read today?" and "What time do we break for lunch?" I could write a whole blog post on the jury system. (Actually, I know nothing about the jury system other than that the video says I am supposed to be proud to be here.) I could also write a whole post about the different characters one sees in the waiting room at the Kings County courthouse. But, as it so happens, I have a different story to tell. (Also, it is illegal. As was explained to us by the guy giving the introductory speech. After he pulled up an app that looked up everyone who had Fa...

Its Monday morning, around 8:30am, and for the first time in three weeks I am not in the car off to a day of karate camp. To be honest, it is a little disorienting to be back to my "normal" life, I am not quite sure what to do with myself. What did I do with my mornings before camp? Oh yeah, jiu-jitsu. And stuff with Maya. And that overflowing basket of laundry over there that has been sitting in the middle of our living room for three days while Matthew and I have been having this conversation: Me: Can you fold some laundry? Matthew: Sure! Me: If you do the first half, I'll do the other half later. Matthew: Ok, great! (a day later) Me: I forgot about the laundry. Matthew: Oh yeah, me too. (a day later) Me: I meant to fold that laundry last night but then I fell asleep. And so on. What else did I used to do in the mornings? Well blogging, of course! Please forgive me for this post, I am out of practice.  Yesterday we went to Target. Wait, wait before your...

I just finished reading a funny blog post about trying to explain appropriate public clothing options to four year olds.  http://www.betadadblog.com/2013/07/why-cant-i-be-naked-at-pool-daddy.html  It reminded me of a conversation Matthew and I had about a month ago, at a playground in Dumbo. It was early in the summer, and the sprinklers had just come on. Having not properly prepared for this, we had not packed a bathing suit or a change of clothes for Maya, but we told her that if she wanted to get wet it was fine. She would just have to go home in wet clothes and could of course change when she got there. She elected to stay dry but it prompted this discussion: Me: I suppose she could just go in her underwear. Matthew: (looking thoughtful and slightly troubled) I don't know. She's probably too old for that now. Me: (looking thoughtful and slightly annoyed) I guess so. But why? Who cares? Matthew: Society cares. And he's right. They probably do. I have never seen th...

We just completed our first week of summer camp at the dojo. We run camp from 9am-3pm every day, in addition to our normal afternoon and evening karate classes. It is July. In New York. Most of the dojo is not air conditioned. Yes we are badass. I love summer camp but it is exhausting. So in order to prepare for our three week adventure we spent last weekend in the Poconos, trying to do as little as possible. We stayed in a lovely cabin lent to us by two Senseis from another Kenshikai dojo. It was exactly the right amount of nature for me; trees and grass and a lake outside, running water, TV and wifi inside.  There was even a deer: Every woodsy vacation needs a deer. It was beautiful. However, upon arriving in our lovely country oasis, we learned that our cellphones did not work and our ridiculous collection of laptops and tablets could not connect to our friends' Apple brand wireless network. We were not compatible. Silly Mac people. Matthew did...