Oak Tree in an Acorn: Choon Be!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Choon Be!

Olivia recently took her first karate test and became an orange belt. She loves learning the self-defense skills and trying out her karate moves on her daddy. ;)

Karate not only is great exercise but it gives Olivia a way to acceptably release stress. There is a lot of pressure on kids to be "contained" at all times and be perfect mini-adults. Sometimes kids just need to be kids and not worry so much. In karate class, Olivia can yell and kick within the confines of the class and it is okay; she can be a tomboy without being looked at as different, and she has the biggest smile on her face each week after class. This is definitely worth $35/month to me! [step...step...stepping off my soapbox now.... Maybe I need a karate class! ;)]

Genevieve loves going to watch Olivia and you can usually spot her doing her own karate moves on the sidelines.

She also thinks Olivia's helmet is pretty cute on her, and we have to agree. :)

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Why the title, "Oak Tree in an Acorn"?

Well, really it's all about perspective when raising the girls. It helps me to think about the grand scheme of parenting and remember that what we do now affects how our little acorns will grow. Like an oak tree, we want them to be strong in their words and deeds, be able to withstand life's storms, set and reach their goals, and be people that others can lean on and trust.

We have an oak tree planted in our yard that came from an acorn my dad planted in a pot. This acorn came from a huge oak tree that was planted in the backyard of my dad's childhood home. My dad's father also planted this tree from an acorn he found on his hunting lease in the early 1960's. Our tree is thus a family heirloom, a "family tree".

It was the year of Olivia's birth when we planted our little sapling. It looked so very sad that winter with no leaves; it was, basically, like a stick rooted in the ground. Five years later, though, it stands 9 feet tall, and we continue to nurture it and watch it grow. We hope one year it will produce acorns of its own, and we can continue to pass on this family heirloom. We hope to remember it's example of how each acorn has the potential to be an oak tree, and how our acorns, Olivia and Genevieve, will one day, with help from God, become mighty oak trees themselves.