You Hit Like A Girl

For the most part, my husband and I have "traditional" roles in our marriage and household.  I am okay with this, but I also recognize that it's perfectly fine for the roles to be reversed.  In fact, I completely support whatever works for each family - and however a family defines themselves.

Living in my own personal Frat House - I've written about this before, but with a husband, two sons, and a male cat, I am seriously outnumbered - I feel like I am swimming upstream to teach my boys that while I have chosen this role for myself, it is not always this way, and that it's fine.

My 9 year old was recently telling me that he wanted to marry a close girl friend of his from school.  He was explaining how they were going to get married, and that they would have kids so she wouldn't be lonely at home all day.  I (casually) mentioned to him that perhaps said wife might want to work, and not stay home with the kids.  This gave my 9 year old pause - clearly, this possibility had not occurred to him. 

This is a regular struggle for me, as I know that I am the "at-home" Mommy.  I clean the house (okay, I grumble about our dirty house), do dishes, fold laundry, vacuum, shuttle kids, help with homework, cook dinner (fine - go out to eat/pick up take-out).  You get the idea.  So, this is how my kids view my "work".  However, I do these things because I want to - it's my choice.

Our youngest son took up boxing a few months ago.  We have encouraged each of our children to pick an afterschool physical activity, and our 7 year old decided on boxing.  I have no idea where that came from, but after a little research we allowed him to sign up at a local boxing gym that offers Youth Boxing classes 2x a week. 

At first our 7 year old LOVED it.  It was a great workout.  He got to hang out with the "big boys" - there were about 5 other boys in the class, all between ages 9-16 years old.  It was something new and different.  The coach for this group is amazing.  He is so positive, yet firm, and very patient.

About a month ago, my son decided he didn't want to do boxing anymore.  I think he was feeling a little bit overwhelmed with the workouts (they are pretty tough), and with the start of school, and these classes lasting an hour at a later evening time, he was exhausted.  When we signed up though, we committed to attending through November.

Luckily, there was a change in the make-up of the Youth Boxing groups, and my son ended up being with 3 other boys ages 9-11, so the workouts were not as tough, and he was with boys more his own age.  Still, he was struggling. . .

So. . .Oh. . .you know where this is going. . .

I offered to attend boxing with my son, in order to help encourage him through class.  I asked permission from the coach, because I didn't want to interfere with the lessons, but I also felt that if I could be right there, doing the workout too, that it might help motivate my son.  Plus, it's a great way to work off a tough day at work.


Sure enough, one month later, we both go to boxing, 2x a week.  I have my own hand wraps. 
My son loves our boxing time together, and he is talking about continuing longer than our November goal.  We often pair up for activities, and it really has turned into a fun, quality time activity for the two of us. 

Last night was one of our classes.  We were all in the ring, shadow boxing, and one of the other boys told my son, "You hit like a girl." 

No bueno.

Hello 10 year old boy, meet FITMama Bear Feminist.

I turned to the boy, and not wanting to climb up onto my Women Can Do Anything pedestal with someone else's child, I tried to casually imply that it wasn't really an appropriate comment, and HELLO???  I am right there next to him boxing! 

My problem isn't that I think it should be competition about Women being better then Men or vice versa, or who is stronger. . .faster. . .tougher. . .hit harder. . .I just think it should be about choice.  Anyone's choice.  To do whatever is their passion, and to do their best at it. 

Let me introduce you to Lucia Rijker.  Who, you ask?  An amazing female boxer.  Can she hit as hard or harder than a man? Yes, but as she says at the end of the clip (10:08 mark), it's not about being a girl who hits the hardest, it is about being the best at what she does.

So, the next time someone says you Hit Like A Girl, you can say

Thanks.