I'm so strong.

Training 6 days a week when you have 4 kids is challenging...especially in the summer when camp has ended and they're home all the time.

Sometimes Dave leaves work early for me to make a night class, and other times I pay a babysitter. On weekends they stay home with Dave, but this week I tried what I thought would be a disaster...I brought them to the gym.

I packed a bag filled with toys, snacks and screens and gave them a stern lecture on the way.  I begged them to be good.

What happened was possibly the best thing that will happen on this journey.  My kids saw me training.

They watched me work the bag, they watched me in the ring.

Then they went into the other room and started working out.  They put on gloves.  They hit the bag, they got into the ring.  They got along, didn't disrupt our training, or break anything.  Sometimes they'd take a break and color or play Minecraft in the play/locker room but they always came back to watch.

They love the gym.  Now they ask every day if they can go boxing.  John (19 months) has new words..."box" and "sweaty".  He walks around the house in Cecilia's karate sparring gear.

The moment I felt what was happening was when Ruby (5) came running to me in the gym, so proudly showing her muscles, exclaiming "Momma, I'm so strong!!!".  I then realized how much I can influence, by example, how they feel about themselves, and how this could affect their whole lives. This is exactly how I want them to feel as children and adults - strong, fit, confident, empowered, disciplined, hard-working, encouraging, humble, fun, courageous and fiery.  All of these things I feel in boxing.  I wish I started boxing years ago.  I am so proud to be an example for them.

I'm so glad that I decided to bring them to the gym, and I'm so thankful that Kathy, Sione and my F.A. friends welcome them.  Maybe seeing how tough their Momma is will make them behave all the time...haha.