To make DS join karate?

[MrsSnape]

Me and DS1 do karate. DS2 USED to train with us but he quit as he found it "boring". He has a short attention span, doesn't like being told what to do and basically finds the discipline hard.

So, as I'm a single parent I've had no option but to take him with us and make him sit and watch/read/play with his nintendo ds etc etc...most of the time he gets bored, starts messing about, gets into trouble, I get embarrassed, people get annoyed and so it goes on.

I'm seriously considering making him take it up again.

My reasons:

It IS good for them
It would be great for him as he is dyspraxic
He lacks confidence...again this would help
He has NO other interests or hobbies...this would give him something to focus on.
He would be able to defend himself as he grows up.

And from purely selfish points of view..it would stop me being shown up everytime me and DS1 train.

Would it be unreasonable of me to say to DS "Sorry, but you're going to train with me and DS1, I'll make it worth your while (and offer a weekly subscription to fave comic or something).

sorry, ex-DH I take it

May I congratulate you on what sounds a wise decision on your part

[apologies for offending you with above remark]
but I still think rock climbing sounds a good idea for him

Oh I get just as annoyed with ex as you lot have, believe me!

He also decided to tell DS that the Wii was crap....knowing full well that I have bought them one for christmas.

So now DS says Wii's are crap and he doesn't want one. Thanks alot 'dad'

Rock climbing does sound great for him but we only have one club in Hull and its really expensive

Would it be possible then for just DS1 to train? Your DS2 sounds actually a bit like his lack of confidence is backing him into the 'disruptive' corner really...I think if you sat with DS2 and did some form of activity - I dunno, computer hand held thingy (DS?) or sudoko or hangman, cards, or anything, really, I bet DS2 would be fine. He is very young to sit for a long time with no parental supervision and it's setting him up to fail. That way DS1 gets his training, and DS2 gets some good one to one mum attention. I think you'd need to make it totally non- punitive; I'm doing this for fun with you, not I'm doing this cos you can't be trusted.

I realise it means you don't train but might there be an opportunity while they're with their dad? If not, at the very least, you'd be non-stressed and embarrassed by his behaviour which might be more of a pleasure than a fraught hour's training?

Oh dear, sorry i didn't realise he was eh dh. What a pain he is... For what it's worth, as i'm sure you know the wii is bloody fantastic...!

We got one for ds last christmas and dh and i play on it when the children are in bed!

If ds moans about it on christmas day, then just play on it yourself and i'm sure he will quickly want to join in!!!

Shame about the climbing situ. Could the ex not help out with the cost? Maybe you could splurge ( for xmas ) as a one off and if he likes it, then pester dad for long term maybe?????

Which style of karate is it?