September 3, 2006

Chicken

I am the initiator of the Black Belt Mama Challenge.

I should be setting a good example. I should be following through with my goals.

I have a problem. Unfortunately, part of my goal involves another person, Mr. BBM.

We ordered our sparring gear and being the nice person that I am, I even let my husband choose his color first. He picked black, the color I wanted. I let him have the black because I figured he’s a 10th kyu on a semi-permanent break and therefore I’ll let him have the black gear and feel all big and bad.

I ordered metallic blue which I thought would emphasize my eyes nicely. . . and it does.

We got our gear quickly (Karate Depot doesn’t mess around when it comes to shipping). On Friday it arrived and I ripped it open with enthusiasm.

My daughter and I had a blast trying it on and "sparring" in the kitchen.

My husband is one of those people who, on Christmas morning, immediately disappears to try on a new shirt or pair of pants as soon as he opens it. He’s very much like a kid. Because of that, this was the scene as soon as he saw that the gear had arrived. . .

Big I could care less that she doesn’t have sparring gear yet. She’ll use her bare hands to inflict pain. She’ll take out her Kindergarten frustration on her Daddy any day (notice the "height" of that particular punch). He’s grimacing for a pretty good reason, or so he tells me.

Because Mr. BBM and I will be sparring each other, and because my shins already are a lumpy bumpy bluish/purplish/greenish/yellowish/grayish (depending on the day and age of the bruise) mess, we also ordered shin guards.

But, besides the few brief moments of Big I threatening my husband with bodily harm, and her yelling "HEY!" every time I bopped her while sparring in the kitchen, our gear has remained relatively dormant. Mr. BBM and I have not engaged in any official sparring activity. (This, of course, does not include the argument we had this evening over the soaking of a certain pan that needed intense therapy after Salmon Burger Fest 2006 inflicted on it by none other than Mr. BBM himself). Yes, besides Mr. BBM walking around the house kicking things and remarking how thick and nice and padded and awesome our kickers and shin pads are, our gear has remained relatively inactive.

Sure, this was Kindergarten week and that took a lot out of all of us. Of course, the girls are on really messed up schedules right now that is throwing us all for a loop; and yes, we have spent a disproportionate time of our weekend shopping. But that’s no EXCUSE! Black Belt Mama needs to set an example, and I intend to start. . .

tomorrow.

Mr. BBM fell asleep upstairs while putting Lil C down for the night. An accidental nap? I think not. I think there’s a certain 10th kyu with black sparring gear that happens to be a bit afraid of his soon to be (hopefully) 3rd kyu wife who happened to take issue with his soaking pan comment.

My message to him is simple: BE AFRAID. Be VERY AFRAID, because I’m gonna look so good in my metallic blue gear that you’re not even going to see that roundhouse coming, or that back fist to the head that comes on the tail of a simple block. That’s right Mr. BBM, I’m throwing down the gauntlet. Bawk, bawk, bawk, bawk. . . are you chicken. . . or are we gonna GO?

Think that will get his butt in gear?

If you would like to join the Black Belt Mama Challenge, it’s not too late. The BBM Challenge is on-going and new participants can sign up at any time. Go here for details. Participants in the BBM Challenge will receive a coupon code to use at Everything Fitness, and a wealth of support from other blogger participants.