Non-football related stuff that really makes your day

[Panoptes]

Awesome Gonz. I thinking about taking my lil one to Taekwondo, when she's old enough.

Hey OZ,

Just always remember to make sure the events your child joins are what your child wants to join, not what a parent wants them to join.

Before she chose Aikido, she was provided the opportunity to witness live practices of kids her age in Karate, Taekwando, Hapkido(sp?) and of course Aikido. To be fair to her and with her approval, I also took her to witness kids her age practicing ballet, gymnastics, acting, singing, musical instrument lessons and tap dance for a full rounded opportunity to choose her flavor.

It honestly didn't take her 30 seconds after seeing the last of what I will flatly call "girlie" type things to tell me in her own words that she wanted to join Aikido because it was like gymnastics but like Karate too (which is what she wanted to do all along until she realized that Karate was offensive based (punching, kicking, attacking) unlike Aikido which is more of a defensive, reflective, rolling and diving type discipline).

Plus, there were several other girls in her age group already in the Aikido class she saw practicing so it seemed ok to her that she would have friends to "play" with.

It doesn't hurt my feelings any either that her Sensei is a 2nd generation student of the original founder of Aikido. He's very well respected internationally and she was lucky to land a spot in his dojo.

I wish your little one all the very best in her very own ventures in life.

Tell the Mrs. I said hello too. ;)

[DetroitDad08]

Thats pretty cool Gonz, good direction~

[froot loops]

Froot Loops,

Congrats to your little Mic.

My kid still wants to give Irish Dancing a go but never wants to when I'm ready to get her signed up for a free 4 week course.

At a studio run by this co.: http://www.claddaghdance.com/

At 6.5 y.o., she better figure it out soon. The competition is getting younger and younger.

Your daughter is still plenty young. My older daughter's classmate at school just started this year at age 7 and she did really well at her first feis this weekend.

My youngest started at 3 1/2 and has been doing it for a year now. She might be on the fast track, our teacher has already told us that she expects her to probably skip a level, so she would learn the hardshoes this year. She has an advantage with an older sister blazing the trail. A lot of schools won't start until the kids are closer to 5.

[-Oz-]

I always appreciate your warm words, Gonz. Thanks.

You certainly don F around in allowing your lil one plenty of opportunities to attach to something she likes. I admire that.

Im definitely not a parent who will force hobbies onto my child. I intend to do many activities with her, like yourself, and allow her to take to what she likes and support her in that venture. I purely stated martial arts, as i would like for her to learn self defense. Dont want my child to be bullied. I also love the ethos of martial arts, respect, discipline etc. Obviously, if shes not having fun with it, id pull the pin.

I dont respect parents who try live THEIR failed dreams thru their kids. See it too often and its ugly.

Nik and Zoe say hi back.
Our regards to your familia.

[Panoptes]

1-I purely stated martial arts, as i would like for her to learn self defense. Dont want my child to be bullied. I also love the ethos of martial arts, respect, discipline etc. Obviously, if shes not having fun with it, id pull the pin.

2-I dont respect parents who try live THEIR failed dreams thru their kids. See it too often and its ugly.

3-Our regards to your familia.

1) We (my wife and I) totally get all that. One other immediate byproduct of the discipline was we noted almost immediate self-esteem improvements. Now its through the roof compared to where she was when she started. Family, our friends and teachers all commented within several weeks about how she had just seemed to blossom in that regard.

2) Stage moms appear to be the worst of the lot. Some sports coach dads are a close 2nd.

3) Always appreciated when coming from your family

[Sweatpants Murphy]

A good friend of mine is having his first child today. My uber-Italian wife decided that she should make some meals for them to quickly heat up because who has time to cook with a brand new baby.

The laugh I had about the stereotype of Italian women wanting to feed everyone totally made my day.

[Panoptes]

That is awesome.

And one of the most thoughtful gifts any family that just had a child can receive.

We received many prepared meals early on and they were more than welcomed.

Your friends are very lucky.

[Drew]

That is very thoughtful.

[Coop]

I get the joke Sweatpants - I don't remember much of those early days of child rearing but it is a very thoughtful gesture on behalf of your wife...

[CGVT]

After a couple of months battling with the the bank that owned it, we closed on our house in Spanish Fort,AL today. I don't know if I am relieved or not...Ha!

[froot loops]

You might want to work on the yard. No man should reach the stature you have with owning this estate and have bad grass.

[CGVT]

Ha! This picture is from when we found the house in March. St Augustine grass is dormant in the winter.

I can't wait to set up my Virgin Mary shrine in the front yard...

[Panoptes]

Ay dios m?o!

[Drew]

Very nice, CG. You should be relieved. It's beautiful. Love the driveway.

[-Deborah-]

It's terrific, CG!