For My Fencer

My daughter has never traveled the road that other kids do. She likes to do things on her own terms and in her own time. Never a trend follower, never a trend leader. But quietly strong-willed. It didn't show up much when she was little because what I was asking her to do was largely within the realm of things she wanted to do. But as she got older, she found her own drummer to follow. So while I am an organizer, she is a 'messy'. While I tend to give time schedules and posted ETA's a healthy respect, she races out to the bus stop at the last possible moment and smiles all the way to school.  We're learning to negotiate these differences without tears and anger and it is a learning process for both of us.


One of her different drummer moments has been her attraction to the sport of fencing.  Her interest started with Historical Fencing because she loves to make films. And all great films have a duel in them. Some are light saber duels, some are Highlander swords, some are the foppish (yet secretly steely) Musketeer-type duels of the 18th century.  She loved that class and all of the techniques she learned. It helped her film making and gave her a whole 'nother set of resources for her writing.


Then she decided to switch to Olympic style fencing. Electric Olympic style fencing. And she has blossomed.  She LOVES to go and is now talking about joining the Masters class so she can compete regularly. The only heartache I have with this is that the Fencing Academy is at least a 30 minute drive, and on school evenings, more like 45 minutes to an hour.  And while she'll be driving soon, rush hour traffic is NOT how I want her to cut her teeth. So I'll be doing more car time.


But, she is my daughter and I love her. If she really wants to commit to fencing, I'll support it.  Besides, my desire for her in fencing is perfectly illustrated in this comic which ran on 12 February 2010.