Huge Accomplishment for Greyson

Greyson has been taking karate for several years now at MATI in Huntersville.  He has been going twice a week for most of that time and has worked very hard at advancing through the belts.  He started as a white belt and moved through all of the colors until this past April he made it to Red Stripe, the last belt before black.  Once he made red stripe he had to spend the next 6 months preparing for his black belt test. For the last 5 weeks every Sunday from 2-4 was spent doing extra training to prepare him even further for what he would face on his test.  He had a partner and mentor who was a black belt already and she helped him during this time.  Each red stripe had someone to help them along in there quest for black belt.  I was so very worried that he may not be able to have the proper coordination to pull it off.  He knew all he needed to know, but it didn't necessarily look pretty.   Michele and I both were worried too because he seemed to be burnt out on karate too.  He has wanted so badly to quit the past 4 months but we would not allow it.  I didn't want to push too much but I didn't want him to think he could just quit easily either.  So.....we forced him to at least go until he achieved black belt.  this past Saturday morning, October 23rd, 2010 @ 10 am he did just that.  He, along with 5 other classmates successfully passed their black belt exams.  we could not be prouder of him.  He not only passed his test, but he did it while feeling bad.  He has a terrible cold and possibly an ear infection yet he managed to pull it off.  What a guy.  He never ceases to amaze me in the things he can accomplish.  He is always protesting going somewhere or doing something and acting like he is totally uninterested, then he will freak us out later by showing that he was absorbing or interested the whole time.  He wanders around in circles and looks like he could care less but is taking in everything.  I don;t get it but that is how he works.  He does the same thing at school.  It has always driven me somewhat mad but I am trying to realize it is his way of coping in new or fearful situations.  You see, he is a perfectionist so new things pose a threat to him.  That's where the fear comes from.  So...anyway...I digress.  He received the amazing achievement of black belt. We will allow him about 5 months off and then as spring approaches we will continue again, hoping he will want to do some of the new things that he will be allowed to try now.  Flips, rolls, weapons and so on.  I am hoping that the new challenges will spark an interest again.  Next October he will go back to the karate award ceremony to receive his certificate form the Shorinji Kempo Karate Association. Way to go Greyson. You are unbelievable. Thank you for being such a blessing to us and teaching us to be the best parents we can be each and every day.