Mom-agination: Families that Play Together, Stay Together

When our kids are young, they need us every second. As they grow older and more independent, they need us less and less. So how do you continually maintain a strong family unit? We found a way that worked for our family:

My son was five when ‘it’ started. He went from a needy infant and toddler that needed my undying attention every minute to a sports fanatic who suddenly was only interested in talking to his dad and uncles in a foreign language of statistics and rosters. Determined not to lose him (and equally determined not to become immersed in a subject I despised) I decided we needed to find a common interest that both of us could enjoy. What we discovered was so much more. Read how finding a shared passion has brought my son and I closer together and we urge all families to find a passion of their own.

My son was involved in tae kwon do so I decided I would try it, too. Little did I know then that I would become so thoroughly absorbed in the sport. Tae kwon do has become our shared passion, our common interest, our mother-son language together. Here is what my son, Jarod, now age 8, and I say about taking tae kwon do together:

· “Everyone Gets Exercise” – Not only does the physical training benefit both of us now, but it teaches him an early lesson that exercise should be a lifelong habit. Because we are so committed to our training and enjoy our time together, there is little time left for plopping on the couch and gaining pounds.

· “You can Talk About What You Learn” – I am continually impressed with the retention capabilities of my eight-year-old son. While I struggle to recall facts about Korean history for our black belt test this May, he spouts them off without any hesitation. Tae kwon do also promotes life skills that are in sync with our family values: respect, integrity, dedication. I enjoy explaining to him what these values mean to me and giving him examples from my own life. I am amused at his surprise that I had an entire life before he was even born!

· “You Can Give Hints To Each Other” - Training for a black belt is serious work and there is a lot to remember. By taking classes together, we help each other over the tough spots. As we are both learning and training, this puts us on equal level as opposed to other aspects of our lives where I am typically the teacher. The confidence and pride radiates in him when he is able to explain to me something I am doing wrong or help me with a difficult move that he is expert at.

· “You Can Cheer For Each Other” – This is the best part. My heart nearly melts after I perform a poomsay and I catch Jarod out of the corner of my eye give me a thumbs up. There is nothing better than hearing “Good job, Mommy”. We high five each other during class and support each other during tournaments. He sees me trying my best and I know this inspires him to try his best, too. I am amazed at the confidence he has gained during our training, often competing in front of hundreds of people without any nervousness at all (while Mommy is trying hard not to keel over!)

· “You can have fun together and families can work together” – No doubt training at tae kwon do with my son is terrific fun. It’s hard work, but that’s part of the fun. We see entire families training together at our school, White Tiger in Cary, and observe them cohesively discussing and practicing together. We are not the only ones who have discovered that families that play together, stay together.

In a time-compressed hectic world, there should always be time carved out for special family interaction. We found ours at White Tiger in Cary, North Carolina; you can find yours, too. Simply uncover an activity that all of you enjoy and do it together!