This evening, I decided to go to a capoeira (Brazilian martial arts) class that I had seen on a flyer that I picked up. I LOVE capoeira and thought it would be nice to watch others learn. The one thing I overlooked is that the class is for children. Despite that oversight on my part, I stayed there and watched the children practice. While watching, I started a conversation with one of the parents who was sitting next to me and she asked “which one is your kid?” I stumbled and fumbled for my answer. I told her that I don’t have children and just came to watch the class not realizing it was for children. I enjoyed watching the different children go through the techniques they were being taught. There was a little girl who was good but at the same time hesitant; a little boy (or girl) who had a spring of energy that bubbled up to the surface naturally; a little boy who was doing one technique and looked like a natural in comparison to his older brother; the older brother who found his rhythm at a later moment; and a little girl who was very shy because it was her first time, who aced the techniques in the end; and one teenager who was years older than the others but still going through the techniques just the same. They were a joy to watch. Watching the children with their varying degrees of trepidation and enthusiasm reminded me of my desire to have children. I even said to the parent that I do want to have children, even at the advanced maternal age of 45. We discussed exposing children to multicultural experiences so that they have a well-rounded point of view and are able to exist in multiple environments. I could definitely see bringing my own children to that capoeira class. I would just hope they would be more natural movers than their mother…
In the end, the parent and I exchanged telephone numbers and I’ve now made one new friend. Nothing about the class was as I had expected but it turned out to be just what I needed.