I had to stick up for him.

Spencer and Jordan have been in a Karate class after school once a week. They have been enjoying it, especially Spencer. I have been proud of him-he has been trying so hard. He's so shy and always worries that he isn't good anything, so I have been just so proud of him for trying and sticking with it.

So I really had to stick up for him yesterday. I am the parent who checks the kids in every week and makes sure they are signed out after. I got one of my kids in the class free for doing this, so that was a good perk. So the kids come filing in each week, take their shoes off and start running around. Well, a couple weeks ago, Spencer and his little friend were the only 2 kids to come in and sit right down and start stretching and getting ready. The teacher marked them down for that and after class said that Spencer was one of the stars of the class. I really built him up after class-told him how proud I was, etc. So on the way to school Thursday morning we talked all about how today for sure he would be getting an invitation to test for a belt since he had been doing so well.

Well, yesterday he did the same thing-came in, got ready and paid attention. The coach started the class by telling the kids he would be watching them and looking for the kids he would "invite" to "test" for a belt. I sat and watch the class and Spencer did really well. At one point, the coach lined all the kindergartners and first graders up, and Spencer stood at attention and did everything he asked. Oh, and it's not pertinent to the story, but Spencer was the tallest kid in that group, as well.

So at the end of class, he told the older kids and the kids on the "blue line" and any kid that had a check on their hand to come over to get their "invitation" to test for a belt in two weeks.

This is where I got mad. Spencer was not on the "blue line" nor did he have a check on his hand. WHAT???? I was so upset. I had watched him all class and he was great. I wanted to rip into the coaches. I know this may seem "dramatic" like Darin always tells me I am, but I could not understand it. Spencer was of course heartbroken and felt like he failed. He was obviously confused as he totally expected he would get an invitation.

So I stood with Jordan-who did get one-I think he gave all the older kids one- and asked him about it when it was her turn to get her paper. He told me to talk to him after class, so I did. I told him that he had told me Spencer was top the week before and that I felt like he had done the same work today. He said he was getting better; although he did seemed surprised that he hadn't given Spencer one. It think he realized he had over looked Spence because at one point he had the little kids in 2 lines and Spence was in the back.

So he offers to test Spencer right then, but Spencer was already upset and thought he "didn't think I did a good job." He ran off and was crying. It was cute because Jordan ran over and was consoling him. She was just as upset as I was that he didn't get and invitation to test.

I probably was not as clear as I should have been. I should have just asked the coach why Spencer didn't get a check. One of the problems is that there are entirely too many kids in the class-nearly 40 kids. And how on earth can one coach watch that many kids at all times? Anyhow he grabbed Spencer and they had a little talk after his little crying fit. But Spence said he couldn't tell me what they talked about. ( Later in the evening he said he would get another chance next week. I felt a bit better after that.)

I finally got out of there half an hour after we were supposed to-mostly because the coach had to talk to all the kids, and I was ranting and raving all the way down the hall. Little did I realize the assistant coach was walking right behind me the whole time....awkward!!! At least the main one wasn't-although I worry about him telling the main one how upset I was.

Did I go a little overboard? Maybe. Should I have just left and told Spencer to try harder next time? Maybe. When Spencer cried and ran off, should I have just left it at that so he could learn a lesson? Maybe.

I may not have made the best choice in the situation, but I would do it again.