To My Little Champions

Hi,

Before the memories fade and get hazy, I need to write this down for my kids, Auni and Adam. I hope one day they stumble upon this space and know, without a doubt, how incredibly proud I am to be their mom. Every bit of exhaustion is worth it when I see them shine.

Last weekend, we had an adventure that I'll never forget. Auni dove into her first-ever swimming competition, and Adam faced his own challenge in a taekwondo tournament. And, of course, because nothing is ever simple in our lives, both events happened on back-to-back days. The chaos was real, but so was the excitement.

The past few months had been a mission. Auni spent countless hours splashing in the pool, her days and nights filled with dedicated practice. Adam gave up most of his weekends to train with his coach. They were preparing for their first big competitions, and their commitment was inspiring.

And then, the universe decided to throw one last test at us, just days before their events, we all got sick. But nothing could stop them. Even as they were still recovering, they insisted on competing. I let them, because I knew how much their hearts were set on this.

Auni fearlessly took on two events: the 25m Freestyle and the 50m Breaststroke. She competed against nearly 500 swimmers from all over the state, and while making it to the finals wasn't easy, she did something even more impressive, she beat her personal best. Watching her analyze her own performance and figure out where to improve next showed me the true spirit of a champion. She didn't just compete, but she learned.

In Lane 5, my girl waited nervously for the starting signal.

I'll make sure she can see me cheering for her, all the way from the other side of the pool.

As for Adam, he was the breakout star of the day. With his small size and still a junior white belt, he stepped onto the ring and commanded everyone's attention. He snatched two champion medals, one for Pattern and one for Sparring, making his opponents feel a little shaky just by his presence. He was absolutely incredible.

He radiated confidence, and his sharp, precise movements impressed the judges.

It only took him three fights to win the champion medal.

The look of pride on his face as he held his gold medal was priceless.

His performance was so powerful that he was invited to compete in the overall champion category against older, more experienced competitors with different belts. He didn't win that final match, but the experience of going head-to-head with adults was a prize in itself. What a lucky and brave boy.

He looked so small next to the other champions, but the experience of competing with them was a victory in itself.

I'm so relieved that both events were a success. The best part is that they're already looking forward to the next challenge, which tells me this experience has lit a fire in them. It looks like this mom will be rolling up her sleeves right alongside them. 💪