Saving Face

I had been out sick for the past couple of days, so it was catch up time in the gym.  Sparring began for the eight to 12 year olds in the gym.

One kid took a couple of rough hits.  The second time I checked to see if he was okay, I noticed the kid's eyes were red.  The kid was holding back tears.  I could have said, "Oh, don't cry," and other similar remarks.  However, that's not what that kid needed or wanted to hear from me.  "Do you want to do another round?" I asked, and the kid shook his head.  "The both of you all did good.  We'll go over it again tomorrow," I said, taking the kid's gloves and hand wraps off.

If I had played a mommy role and started soothing him, it's possible I could have embarrassed the kid.  The kid may have made a decision not to come back to the gym.  Instead, he took a permission form to take home to his parents to sign.