This post will confirm Ladywine's thoughts that I really haven't gone back to work

It is day #2 of school for M -- and he is home sick. He had a fever of 102 last night; 100 this AM. He's complaining of a sore throat and sick tummy. The last 2 symptoms sound like whatever I have been fighting for the past 2 days.

My game plan today was to run to Target after dropping M off at school. Shop for a little bit and then go to work.

New game plan: nap most of the day with M.

He has a free karate lesson tonight -- I really hate for him to miss it. He went last week and the sunsay (ok..have NO idea how to spell that word!) suggested we try one more free lesson before deciding to spend money on karate lessons. (Mainly b/c my lovely, clingy son didn't want to go into the lesson.... I had to "plop and run" in order to get him into the room)

Maybe after a good nap, he will feel well enough to complain about 'not really wanting karate lessons' and refuse to go into the karate lesson and sulk after I "plop him and run".

BTW: he has begged for karate lessons alllllllll summer long! In his typical fashion, he is backing away from trying something new even though when we are away from the situation he tells everyone, "I am taking karate lessons"

Ok... I am rambling....

Anyone have fun plans for the day?

Just work and watch it rain. And I think it is sensai. Good luck with the lessons!

It's a dreary day here also, but I get to shop with my 12 1/2 yr old who "HATES" (yes I said hates) shopping for shoes (or anything for that matter). Of course that will take us to the grocery store to pick up some more 10 cents corn on the cob. Which will lead us to the kitchen to "shuck (sp?)", blanch and freeze. I think I will have to do green beans also.

I also have to start packing up my garage sale stuff. Not looking forward to that.

If time allows, a good nap!

Aww sorry he sick, so is mine. He was very congested and had a fever. I put him back to bed and put an ice chest with gatorade and water (and his cell phone) by the bed and snuggled him up ....and im here at work.

Are you thinking of Sensei? I can't believe you haven't told me this yet. Would it help if he talked to me about taking class- I'll be home later tonight? What if you join him in the class? Also how much is it? Do you like the instructors- are they working well with the kids? If he's not wanting to go maybe you can wait a little and try again when he's older. From experience it was always hard to work with kids who are hesisant to be there, kwim?

I hope he feels better.

I worked this am and am waiting to give someone a tour of the studio- I drove all the way in and am not working so they better be here soon- I've been calling her phone since 9am and she's not answering so if she's not here soon I'm leaving.

Brigette

Yes... Sensei is the word.

I can't join him in a class. He would stay suction-cupped to my leg for the entire class. He already asked me to take the class with him. I told him that I would love to but you need your legs for karate and since he never lets go of them when it is time to try something new; I would not be able to do karate without my legs.

Love the Sensei. He came highly recommended.

Here's short version of what has happened so far:

First visit: we were 15 min late. I got lost. The Sensei came out -- saw that M was very hesitant and said, "Hey bud, you look concerned. Why don't you just watch through the window today?" And then told me to come back the following week and be 15 min early.

Second visit: We were 20 min early. We went in. M clung to my leg. Sensei asked M to help him. M shook his head no. I was very honest with the Sensei. I told him: 1) M has been for karate lessons all summer. 2) He always wants to back out of new things -- even when he has requested to do the new thing. 3) M does better without me around -- will participate to a degree w/o me. With me, he will hang on my leg or sit in my lap. Then I asked the Sensei to be honest with me: if he felt M was not ready (socially, mature-wise, emotionally) to start karate, so be it. Please tell me that. Sensei talked to M. M hid behind my legs. M refused to take off his shoes -- I took them off for him. Students started arriving. M started putting socks/shoes back on. Sensei tried and tried to get M in the karate room... no luck.. finally looked at me and said, "I don't know what else to do." I replied, "Well, I can always do the ol' 'plop and run' trick" Sensei said, "You're comfortable doing that?"

Comfortable? That is how I get M to try most new classes/camps.

Sensei was fine with this -- tho I think he didn't think I could do it w/o falling apart. The man actually came out after 15 min to check up on ME! He was amazed I was AOK. Guess I am used to the plop-and-run routine.

So, M had one shoe (minus sock) on at this point. Sensei went into the classroom. I counted to 30 (as requested by the Sensei), looked at M & said, "Sweetpea, I love ya! But you'll never know if you like karate or not unless you get in there and check it out." Scooped him up, dropped him in the classroom and shut the door on my way out.

And... as I knew he would be.... he was fine. I didn't watch thru the window -- but my friend gave me a play by play of what M was doing.

He sat and watched. Then helped the Sensei get some mats out. Then tried some kicks/punches to the bag with the Sensei. He just wouldn't join the group.

Luckily for the reg students, there was another instructor b/c the Sensei gave 90% of his time to M.

When it was all over, the Sensei told me the following: 1) M is a wonderful listener and follows directions very well. 2) M is not disruptive. 3) If M can get over his hesitation/shyness, he would make a good karate student. 4) Try one more free lesson and then he (Sensei) will tell me what he thinks about signing up or waiting 6 months.

Brig -- I have no problems waiting 6 months to try again. I just know my son -- he has made small comments all day about NOT wanting to ever go back to karate. YET.. last week whenever we bumped into a school bud, M would say, "Hey.. I am taking karate lessons!" and proceed to karate kick in the air.

He made the same comments (don't want to go; I don't like to do this type stuff)this summer about Pirate Camp and Safety Town. Yet once he got into the camp -- was each day to go back the next. He makes me feel like this: somedays!

Hope M is doing better by this time...boy a nap sounds grand...

Took Jake (well, and Zach too) to Jake's K open house, stayed for a while, played on the school playground for a bit, went to the grocery store (and was reminded yet again how much I hate shopping with two little boys....)

Came home, put cold groceries away, met DH for lunch with the kids, now home, Z napping, J watching TV/making giant grocery bag puppet thing, me thinking about a nap and realizing that I really, actually need to be unpacking all the stuff from the vacation we just got back from yesterday (and put away the groceries that didn't need to stay cold).

Nothing exciting here...

Oh, and Lynda, I'm a big fan of plop and run..."Bye, Mommy loves you, have fun!" Slam the door...I get over my guilt around the same time their tears dry...so not long!

OH man, I can see how that makes you I wish I had some suggestions for you. Since the plop & run trick worked I'd try again next week. I've done that with M and her dance classes. The one thing I did do because I know M loved dancing was make her sit in the room even if she wasn't going to participate... I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not... but it worked for us.

Let me know if he does it next week! We need another karate-ka (karate student) in this group!

Brigette

Next week (time #3) = today. Sorry... must have confused you somewhere above.

I had to do the ol' plop and run trick.

He stayed in the room...sitting on the side... hands over his ears as the students yelled their karate words.... just watched the whole time and at the end, he came out and said, "Let's go". M will sit and watch until the cows come home... and even after they get home and hit the hay (haha!)

Sensei said -- one more time... if he participates, sign him up. If not, try again in 4-6 months.

I know he doesn't like loud noises... could that be a problem? It's always loud in karate classes.

Brigette

Update... in case anyone wanted one.

No karate lesson on Labor Day.

Monday, the 10th, DH took him. M proceeded to sit on the floor and watch the class again.

DH & I decided to pay the $$ and officially enroll him. Sensei feels he will come around.

Monday, the 17th, he finally participates -- about 50% of the time. But only after I informed him that the upcoming Saturday would be family movie night and that the only ppl invited would be: mommies, daddies, and boys who participate in karate. He couldn't stand to miss out on eating dinner in front of the TV and a movie.

Have more to update... but need to go do something real quick.

Part 2

Monday, the 24th was a much-needed Prozac karate lesson for me. We arrived 15 minutes early and the Sensei handed me M's karate uniform. We go to the bathroom to change and M decides he is not going to wear any karate clothes. Never. Not in this life. You can't make me. Let's have a tantrum over it.



To make a long story very short, I managed to get his shorts off. He managed to scream louder. And 20+ minutes later, we emerged from the bathroom in the karate pants and his regular shirt. I plopped him in the classroom and told the sensei that uniform pants were it for today. He nicely said we could work on the shirt for next week. (And I thought, "Yea... only if I can get a scrip for Prozac before next week!" )


Oct 2 arrived before I could get that scrip. I explained to M on the way to karate that my expectations are/were: 1. he goes into karate class; 2. he listens to the sensei; and 3. he participates in the lesson -- and participates = wear the entire uniform AND jump, kick, punch, roll, yell, dance when the sensei says to.

I expected a battle over the uniform top. I got NONE! He questioned and questioned the uniform as he put it on. Once dressed (and the sensei showed me how to tie the belt), M gave me a quick hug goodbye and said, "I need to go now... I have important karate stuff to do. Bye!"

And off he went to class.

Where he participated 100% of the time. With a huge grin on his face. He even volunteered to show a kick to the class. Did I mention he had a HUGE grin on his face the entire time?

And now he says, "I love karate... can Monday be here faster??"

All that drama....

My game plan ~ get the kids off to school and DH to work so I can get a game plan!

My plan...
1.) Get rid of hangover from last night
2.) Get a plan for the day.
3.)Pick up kids from mom's house.

That's about it... Killer headache right now.

DH is off today, so only game plan is to spend time with him and DS today. Congrats on you son finally succumbing (sp?) to Karate. He'll love it in the longrun. I've tried to get my DS to take it, but No Way, Hosea!! I got as far as my orange belt, then finding out I was pregnant 9 years ago, I quit and never went back. At least I know that if someone tries to attack me, I'll be able to defend myself! Good luck to your son...