Fencing

My son made a life choice recently. He’s not quite twelve; big life choices are new territory for him. R’s been going to gymnastics class for, what, six years now? He’s been on the competitive team for two years. Blog readers may recall that he placed second in state individually, back in March.

But his coach left, moving on to a new life as a husband and a new father with his new wife. They’re now in New Mexico as she finishes her studies to be an Anesthetist.

Gymnastics, for R, was about his relationship with his coach. And about his love for doing that sort of activity. Not about competition.

I think he has quietly been seeking another place to put his athletic attention for some time now. So, when his Mom asked him if there was something the two of them could do together, could share together, he immediately said ‘Fencing!!’

And so, that’s what they do. They go to Fencing class. R loves  it. I see him ‘on fire’ about Fencing in a way he never was about gymnastics. For that, I am relieved.  C really enjoys it, too. She finds dance in it. R, of course, finds swashbuckling fun and endless layers of complexity in it. That’s what keeps him engaged.

R is selling his gym gear. His mushroom, etc. The proceeds will go to the purchase of his own fencing gear… and probably his own gym membership for a while. Just to see if he 1) loves it enough to fund it himself, 2) buys in mentally because he’s the one paying for it now, or 3) a bit of both.

So, farewell to Gymnastics. Hello to Fencing. The family blog should see more fencing over time. I’m adding a new category to the blog for Fencing.