When I was pregnant with Dynamo, I wondered if I’d really have the courage to protect him. If push came to shove, would I be too frightened to think of anything except my own safety?
Luckily, I’ve never had to find out. But I did get something of an answer one day when Dynamo was a baby. We were in an outdoor food-court area at a theme park — one of those places that’s all concrete with metal tables and chairs. I was carrying Dynamo when I stumbled. I could feel myself falling and, as I fell, I automatically twisted my body to put myself between Dynamo and the ground. He landed safely on top of me with nothing more than a bit of a scare. I broke my toe (again), but it didn’t matter since my child was safe. It’s a vivid sensation I can still remember to this day, twelve years later.
I’ve heard so many similar stories from other parents. I’ve spoken with many, many moms who took abuse from their partners for years and couldn’t dig themselves out of it until the abuser turned on their children. I remember one mother in particular who said, “You can do anything you want to me, but don’t mess with my kids!” In other words — hurt me, if you must, but not my son! It can’t be purely biological (we wouldn’t have child abuse, if it was): I know Jay wouldn’t hesitate to give his own life to save Dynamo’s.
But I know I’m not going to be around forever. At some point, rapidly approaching, Dynamo has to take over the job of protecting himself. Heck, I’m not even with him most of the day and that’s just going to accelerate as he finishes middle school and enters high school, then college. The big question on my mind now is: what’s the best way to teach him self-defense?
Tags: abuse, children, Parenting, Self-Defense
