MAMA: Adventures in Martial Arts and Motherhood

When it comes to this blog, I do not do much self censorship. Occasionally I write something that is a bit controversial, fully aware and accepting that I might piss someone off. And while I do not look for arguments  I am ok with you disagreeing with me, and am happy to have a respectful discussion about why you do.  For this post, however, I am putting a disclaimer out there.  I am aware that many people struggle with very real addictions and very real emotional distress. You are working hard, through soul searching, and meditation and therapy and medication, to make your world less scary, less sad, less overwhelming. If in the midst of this journey, you have decided (like Glennon Melton of Momastery has  http://momastery.com/blog/2013/09/26/6-reasons-social-media-dangerous/ ) that Social Media is contributing to your misery, than by all means cut it out. Breathe. Do your thing. This post is not for you. But for the rest of you, your misery is not Fac...

Yesterday I performed what I believe is one of the main responsibilities of every jiu-jitsu blue belt; I taught a new white belt to slow down. Its not their fault, those white belts. You remember how it is; you get out there on the mats for your first roll and you are so amped up and nervous you feel like a horse at the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby. (If horses actually feel amped up and nervous...I don't know a thing about horse racing.) You don't know any submissions yet, you don't really know anything yet, but you know that you want to get on top and stay there and that under no circumstances are you going to let anyone tap you.  Ha ha. White belts. So cute. I can say that because I was one. We all were. Guess what, everyone is going to tap you. For months. And that is actually a good thing, it is part of learning. Also, you are going to get tapped whether you go slow or you throw your body on me like a freight train. If fact, all you are really going to ac...

On Friday morning I finally went to get my messed up shoulder looked at. By an actual sports doctor, as opposed to my husband, which is where I normally go for medical advice. (Quick sidebar: I am not the only one who does this by the way. At least once a week one of our karate students pulls Matthew aside and asks his advice about a body part that is hurting. He is a karate teacher people! Despite the fact that he has had a lot of experience with pain, he is not a member of the medical profession. Don't let that confident demeanor fool you, he knows nothing!) Never stopped me though. In any case, I had a very thorough physical exam in order to found out what I already know, I have overworked my shoulder muscles. Or to be more specific, the front of my upper body is very strong from years of exercise, but I have done little to build up the back. That, combined with years of martial arts training and carrying a heavy bag over one shoulder, has resulted in a whole ...

This is it, the last week of summer vacation. The last week before my sweet little girl walks out of the house into first grade. First grade! It boggles my mind. During these last precious days I am somehow filled with both a desperate need to hold on to each moment, to make them all absolutely incredible, and a fierce impatience to just get on with it already! So I am running around the playground with Maya thinking "This is awesome, this is so much fun, look how happy she is, look at that angelic smile, look at the sun sparkling off on the distance, it all goes by so fast, I love her so much, can I sit down now?" It has been an odd summer and my brain has lost track of what our normal routine is. Do I work camp for 8 hours a day in 99 degree heat? Do I lie on my back suffering from swollen sinuses? Am I on a beach somewhere? Does my shoulder hurt today? Do I still teach karate? Do I still take karate? What day is it again?  To fit in with my desire to squeeze every ...