New Martial Arts Class Update

I mentioned the other week how Belle struggled at the news of changing from the beginners class to the intermediate class in Aikido. Well I wanted to be sure and say how after just 2 classes Belle is doing GREAT! Not "better" but GREAT!!! Today and last class week's class too she was just the model student. But I want to mention about today specifically because it was a bit more of a challenge. There is another kid in her class who has some issues. He's a sweet boy and really does have a mental disability. But part of the symptoms is he is very high energy and his method of playing can sometimes be to try and aggravate other kids. I feel for him, he obviously wants to play he just doesn't know how. He also is very loud and will sometimes shriek or yell while getting in kids faces. Everyone is super understanding. Well today he yelled in Belle's ear and while paired up with her was trying to "play" but in his way that was only ticking Belle off. He even got a little to aggressive and grabbed her wrist to hard and threw her to hard.



Her teacher intervened after each time and talked to him and helped the situation of course. But what I was really impressed with Belle by was that she didn't yell back, didn't hit back, didn't start crying and getting overly upset. No she wasn't happy, she told him to please stop and when she got hurt she went and told her teacher. When he yelled she simply covered her ears. But I was just so impressed by her self control. She told me later she wanted to punch him after he hurt her but knew that was wrong. I told her yes that would have been very wrong. We talked about how we need to be understanding and patient with him but that part of the way to help him was to make it clear to him nicely that we do not like it when he does these things.



But I pointed out to Belle how well she handled everything today. Not just with him but the entire class. She listened, she focused, she smiled and was nice to everyone.. and yes she handled a difficult situation just perfectly.



Even her teacher complemented her after class. :) AND she got a strip for her belt for doing well on her techniques! And to think... just 2 classes back she was crying and freaking out about changing classes.