The kids started karate tonight.  They came home very excited and feeling like they already had black belts. They were trying to give me lessons.  I hope they all continue to love it. 

When I was in highschool I had a friend named Jill who was very good at martial arts.   I so admired her discipline, poise, and confidence.

The last time Steve and I were in Central park there was a baseball game going on in one field, and couple enjoying a picnic or walking hand in hand.  People were reading beneath trees, or painting the views. Mutiple people were out walking their dogs or playing with their children.  There, in the middle of it all, was a women  practicing.   I watched her from a distance.  She had on the most delightful skirt, feminine with roses and a ribbon and then a shirt that was also feminine but ethnic.  Her long long braids swung around as she practiced and then in contrast she was doing these powerful moves. 

Her clothes did not quite match, and her moves did not match how she looked, yet she carried herself so well that it was really incredible to see.  It all fit, the contrast complimented her.    Watching her do these moves that she knew so well reminded me of that feeling I had in highschool of wanting to be trained like Jill had been.   To know a skill like this that I can carry with me wherever I go.

We are not going to force it on the kids, they have all agreed to commit for one year, but I would love it if they continue with it for the rest of their lives.

I could not watch their class tonight because Eowyn started puppy kindergarten and it started AT THE SAME TIME and was all the way across town.

Steve put the address in the GPS because it was  in an area that I was not familiar with.  After turning on the GPS I turned off my brain and blindly followed everywhere my electronic British friend told me to go.  I was halfway to Steve's work which is an hour away before I realized that the wrong location was in the GPS.  Sigh.

We do not have a dog crate for the car yet so Eowyn rode on my lap, not sure if there are laws to prohibit that, but there should be--it was not the safest trip I have ever had!   She was turning around and around in circles and licking my face and whining.  She finally settled and fell asleep on my lap and we did make it there safely. Half and hour late.

Ewoyn was the youngest dog at the school so people were coming up and asking to hold her and carry her around and it reminded me of Jeffers.  He weighed less than five pounds when I first brought him to the Drs. and all the nurses wanted to hold him.

All the pet owners stood around in a big circle with their repsective pets, listening to a lecture on dog training.  After the lecture we all took turns putting into action what we just heard.  For example I had to teach Eowyn "Sit" while the other pet owners watched.  My turn came after three of the dogs flunked that test.  Eowyn obeyed instantly and I felt a surge of pride that I have the smartest dog in the whole wide world.  And then I was appalled at my pride.

It felt VERY much like parenting in our society where everyone watches all the other kids and compare notes and judgements on who has the better behaved child. We ask questions about sleeping through the night, co sleeping, scheduling, nursing and so on.  The questions are not always out of concern for the baby,  I found that often it is to critique that parent. Which is sad because being a new mom is one of the most insecure times of life.

This was all just an observation not a reflection on the teacher of the puppy class, she rocks, and is a friend of ours.  She was a police officer who trained dogs for the k9 unit and is  helping Steve and I survive the puppy stage.

I have been keeping up on taking one photo every single day, but I do not always get around to posting them, so I am putting some stray photos on this post.