Interview Meme

This meme has been circulating the internet for a while now. Here are the rules if you'd like to play:

1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the questions and answers.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview readers in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here are the questions Black Belt Mama asked of me:

1. What's the most important thing you've learned while taking karate?

I think the most important thing I've learned from karate is that I can do it. I am no longer the clumsy bookish 5 year old standing on the sidelines in the gym looking down at my feet and praying that I'm not picked for a team. Now I'm the slightly less clumsy bookish 26 year old standing on the front row in the dojo focusing straight ahead feeling confident that I can handle whatever this class has to offer me. It's a very empowering realization.

2. What's it like being married to your teacher?

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Honestly, I think it's great. Sometimes it's tough - there are times when I have to demonstrate an amazing amount of self-control because whatever he has said or done in class would have elicited a sarcastic comment or slap on the arm if it had happened at home. But he's also a great asset to my practice. If I get lost in a kata at home I don't have to look it up or wait until the next class; I can just ask him to run it with me. If I have a really hard day at work and feel the need to pummel something, I can ask him to take me to the dojo for a private sparring lesson (much better than snapping at work and beating one of the kids - not that I would ever actually do that...fantasize, sure, but never actually act on it). And if I start to get frustrated in class because I'm just not catching on to whatever technique we're working, he's right there to keep me calm, reminding me that we can always work on it later.

3. What's the most difficult kata you've had to learn?

I'm currently learning Kanku Dai, and I can honestly say it's the hardest one to date. Simply because of the sheer number of techniques and length and the fact that it's really just a culmination of all the other katas - a piece of this one and a section of that one. It's really easy to get lost. The jump kick is kicking my butt, too.

4. What's one thing in karate that you wish you could do better immediately?

Having that jump kick in Kanku Dai down would be sweet. But my gut reaction to this question is sparring. I just don't think fast enough on my feet to adapt to my opponent. I overthink the situation. I telegraph moves because I think about it too hard. I really wish it was a more natural thing for me than it is.

5. How many kids do you want to have?

In high school I used to tell people that I wanted to be barefoot and pregnant for the rest of my child-bearing days. I have a brother and a sister myself, but they were so much older than me that I practically grew up as an only child. And while I had a very active imagination to compensate for the lack of playmates, I wanted (and still want) my kids to have siblings closer to their age. Working in childcare, I'm not quite in the same mindset as I was in high school. There are days when I am not sure I want any kids of my own anymore. But I remind myself that my kids won't be like those kids (right? Dear God in Heaven, PLEASE tell me I'm right!). Right now I'd say anywhere from 2 to 4, depending on our ability to provide for them. My desire to be able to be a stay-at-home mom will probably keep us on the lower end of that range, but that's ok by me.