Baby - Never Say 'Never'

 

In my life BM, (Before Munchkins); there were always things I was sure I would NEVER do. A decade ago when my beautiful housemate and I posed for this post match picture I was so self-centred. All I could think of was how cool it was going to be getting to the bar to celebrate my player of the match status and a big night out.  Life was friends, footy, fun; a revolving door of rugby, rugby housemates, rugby friends, rugby training, rugby playing and going out all mixed into one. We had friends that had children, yet I NEVER considered having any myself. I thought that if I did, I would NEVER let them pee in public, nor would I be providing a public boobfest by breast feeding.

Saturday week ago I was standing on the side of the rugby field with MissyMe latched on drinking boob juice while I chatted to old friends. MicroMe started bouncing around saying "I need to wee right now!" After waiting for me to finish playing MissyMe made it clear that she was in no mood to compromise her position.  As I directed MicroMe to run behind a nearby tree and do his thing, I suddenly remembered that this was two somethings I said I would NEVER do all rolled into one... I stood in the afternoon sun smiling to myself and thought of a decade ago and realised that I am so much cooler now.

OK, so it is true, my friends and I did have matching pyjamas and we were known to wander around the Northern Districts and North Shore on a Sunday morning, sporting hangovers looking for something yummy for breakfast. It was just a thing that started when we used to have sleep overs, borrowed clothes and pyjamas were all part of it. That was back in the days when rugby ruled, touch or austag were an added extra and I think I was even sneaking out of rugby training at Eastwood early to play night comp netball at West Pymble. I just couldn't give up that cute little skirt and submit completely to wearing baggy striped jumpers and ill-fitting shorts for sports.

One thing I knew for sure was that I would NEVER participate in any form of martial arts, mainly because I did not want to wear those white unisex pyjamas that did nothing to define ones figure. Oh yes, BM (Before Munchkins) logic at it's very best, (or worst). I thought that boxing was for neanderthals and that martial arts were for people who couldn't box.  A couple of weeks ago as I pulled on Emma's grappling pants in lieu of my missing gi and ran on to the mat while the lovely Alicia looked after MissyMe, I laughed at the irony. Yet again I was immersed in something I said I would NEVER do and it felt natural and normal. I can't imagine life without muay thai, karate, grappling, brazilian jujitsu and all the wonderful people I have met doing it at Pollets Mixed Martial Arts and Blue Mountains Martial Arts Centre.   

I NEVER expected to be training for Muay Thai while my baby slept in a fight cage all wrapped up in a flower petal blankie with her big brother running around yahooing like crazy as he jumped on all the training dummies.  I certainly didn't expect that doing all these things that I said I would NEVER do would bring me such joy and that I would be able to do them with my pre-schooler and baby in tow.    As soon as I put it out there, it all began to fall into place... Friends offering me their gear to use, people stepping in to look after MissyMe while I train, play and climb, how could I say no?  MicroMe has suddenly matured enough to either join me in my endeavours to have fun and get fit again, or to stand by and support me, (very vocally I might add).  The wonderful comments he makes after rugby, like, "why did you drop the ball Mummy?" are redeemed when he stands ringside yelling, "go Mummy go, look at you, I love you..."  

Never say 'never' (as MaxiMe has told me over and over for years), if I had never had these munchkins, never taken the opportunity to do new things with the munchkins, I would never be this happy.  Life doesn't end when you become a parent; it merely presents different opportunities.


© 2010 Luisa Foliaki – Proud Mumma of MicroMe & MissyMe


People that inspired me and this article:


The Fab Five (Bronia, Cass, Irem and Kat), the most fun girls ever.

Rugby friends and coaches from Eastwood, Waverly, Sydney Uni and Warringah.

The great people from Pollets Martial Arts Centre and Blue Mountains Martial Arts Centre.


MaxiMe: Stephen Gore, the father of my beautiful children; who gets angry when I say NEVER.

Eddy Croft - MaxiMe's friend whose online efforts inadvertently inspired me to write this article to make a Squidoo lens.