Dry January Day 15

My 6-year-old daughter made her debut in the octagon tonight for a sparring session with her MMA coach. She just started “black belt training” and so she usually spends a few minutes after class sparring with her coach in the regular studio. Tonight, he let her use the octagon and sparred with her for a good 20 minutes. Because he sees what a hard worker she is. And he knows how much she loves the challenge of learning martial arts. Was she intimidated by going into a giant cage to spar, while I and all the adults who were filtering into the 6:30 class were watching? No. She just went for it. And she did great!I have been in my own mental octagon for 15 days now, battling against a foe. Trying to learn to anticipate its next move and get ahead of it. I’ve stumbled a bit. But I haven’t been knocked down. I’m still standing, still sparring, hoping my gloves will start to feel lighter and lighter as the days wear on.My daughter’s goal in life is to be a superhero. And a mommy. She is my "why" and she inspires me to no end.And with 15 days of Dry January under my (admittedly, not black) belt, I feel like I am becoming the mommy I have always wanted to be.