My Son Starts Taekwondo Today
You may think that has nothing to do with personal finance, but oh how it does.
Originally, before my son was even born, I was planning on enrolling him in taekwondo when he turned three. Well, his third birthday came and went several months ago, and I kept putting off starting him. You see, taekwondo is, in a word, expensive. I really do feel that the cost is worth the rewards, but I can’t deny the significant cost. And we’re in the intense getting out of debt phase and I didn’t want to slow it down at all. I felt like starting taekwondo could wait a few months or even a year without a problem.
But I’ve decided it is time. As I’ve said before, I try not to deny things I feel are important for my kids because of our financial situation. It isn’t their fault, after all, that we are in debt. I don’t go crazy and sign them up for every little thing, but there are some experiences and activities I feel are important. And taekwondo just moved way up on the “important” list. My son is behind in his speech development, and part of that is his apparent inability to focus and pay attention. Yes he is only three, and yes, this is part of how three year olds are. But Wednesday, his speech therapist talked to me about having him evaluated for a special education/developmentally delayed 5 day a week preschool class vs the two day a week “speech-intensive” preschool he currently attends. We’re having a big meeting to further discuss this on Monday with a whole bunch of speech people and I’m not really all that happy about it. I feel that taekwondo might be able to help his attention and focus more than treating him like he is developmentally delayed. Yes, I am his mother. Yes, I am biased. But I don’t see the child the speech therapist describes. I see a child who is too busy to pay attention, not a child who is unable to understand.
This isn’t a blog about martial arts so I will spare everyone the long speech I could give on the benefits of martial art training from an early age on the development of focus, self-control, and a confident attitude. But in the classes I teach, I have seen it happen over and over and over again. The whole question of starting my son right now in taekwondo vs waiting boils down to this - is the risk of potentially slowing down our debt reduction worth the potential benefit of my son starting the taekwondo classes now? For me, for my family, the answer is yes. And so we begin this morning.
I’m sincerely hoping he doesn’t drive the instructor crazy. Because the instructor, also known as my instructor, will just make me take over the class for him if my son gets too rowdy ;). Here’s to learning focus.
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September 29th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I put my daughter in TKD at age five and now she’s a purple belt and will be in her first tournament next week. It costs me $130 a month and it’s totally worth it. It’s a financial sacrifice that we’re willing to make for our daughter and we don’t regret it.
Make sure you’re really willing to make the financial sacrifice. I’ve seen parents who let their resentment show through (buyer’s remorse after signing the contract) and it’s not helpful to the kids.
3 years old seems a little young to start. The kids who get the most out of it are the ones whose parents are really involved and emotionally supportive.
September 29th, 2007 at 11:49 am
It’s so hard to weigh paying off debt vs. not depriving the kids. You are completely right, though, when you say it’s not the kids’ fault that you’re in debt.
We also pay for our kids to participate in various activities…right now soccer. I think it’s important for kids to be able to try things out to find their interests. My son has gotten a great deal of confidence from soccer. Turns out he’s pretty good. The money spent is well worth it.
September 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
@Nivek - our studio starts the kids at 3. The studio I used to teach at before we moved started at 4. I think it varies place to place.
I’m fully aware of the cost and how I feel about it and wouldn’t go forward if I wasn’t sure about it. I’m a 3rd degree blackbelt in tkd so I have been doing it a while. And I definitely will be involved and supportive - I was on the floor for his entire class helping out today lol.
Thanks for your perspective!
@Lynnae - that sounds great about your son and soccer! My son did soccer this summer…. well… he’s young :). I’ve done short term things with the kids but this is the first time I’ve decided on something recurring long term.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Good for you! We barter for dance lessons.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I barter for my own tkd lessons
I don’t think I have enough hours in the day to barter for his too. Maybe when the littlest one is older
September 29th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
This is a tough one for me too. We will probably always be splurging on some type of seasonal sports for the kids. However, I am able to give my son piano lessons myself, even though I would prefer to pay someone, that’s the trade off we make so he can play sports too. I do limit him to one sport at a time, and only 2 per year.
Jen @ Lords of the Manor
September 30th, 2007 at 9:08 am
My son just turned 6. I try to bring him down to the training sessions to just sit and watch. IMO, I don’t think it’s necessary for him to practice at the moment. It’s better for him to see how martial arts should be practiced rather than for him to go running around playing chase-y with friends dressed up in gis. I think I’ll let him continue playing with his friends and when the time comes, focus himself on learning some really solid skills.
Colin
September 30th, 2007 at 10:05 am
For my own son, I don’t necessarily agree. If I did, I wouldn’t have decided to start him now. However, we all have our own viewpoints and different kids need different things. Since I teach martial arts to preschoolers, I freely admit my own bias.
Thanks for the comment and for stopping by!