The Competitive One

Last week, I (finally) gained my first stripe for red belt.

On the way to the car, I casually showed it to Miss J, who had been preoccupied on her iPad during my training.

"Since you're taking a break this term, it means I'll get to catch up with you and get my red belt, then we'll be equal," I teased.

Miss J, who got her red belt last year but hasn't got any competency stripes yet, got defensive.

As (in my imagination) the vision of Mum with a red belt rose to her mind, all the tantrums about wanting to quit training and take a break disappeared.

"Oh no you're not!" she declared. "I'm coming back to class!"

Ho ho.

I've figured out another important aspect of my child's psychological makeup.

1-0 to Mum.