Since Keaton was 4 years old, he has dreamed of becoming a ninja, think of American Ninja Warrior. This goal has remained steadfast for more than half of his life, fueled initially by Matthew and me enjoying the show as a clean, positive program suitable for Keaton at a young age. Little did we know how deeply he would embrace it…

Matthew took the lead in turning Keaton’s dream into reality. When Keaton repeatedly expressed his desire to become a ninja, Matthew began researching options. Around the same time, American Ninja Warrior Junior was airing, showing that younger kids could participate too. Matthew explored various gyms in the area, eventually discovering that Austin Ninjas was the perfect fit for our family due to its cleanliness, safety, skilled coaches, and caring owner. They started attending open gym sessions together on weekends, and quickly realized it was the ideal place for Keaton.

In January 2020, Keaton began his classes and absolutely loved them! Then COVID-19 hit, seemingly putting his ninja dreams on hold… or did it?

Around the time Keaton began his lessons, Matthew began converting our yard into a mini ninja training ground. He constructed floating steps and set up a monkey line between two trees. When COVID-19 halted official training, Keaton displayed a level of dedication that amazed me. He spent countless hours mastering those obstacles. We never had to tell him to practice ninja; it was something he pursued on his own initiative.

Jumping ahead to January 2022, when Keaton was 8.5 years old, Matthew enrolled him again in lessons at Austin Ninjas. As part of the enrollment process, Keaton underwent an assessment to determine his skill level. To our astonishment, one part of the assessment involved how many push-ups he could do, and he completed an impressive 49!

And so began this new chapter in our ninja journey. A few months after he began his lessons, Keaton entered his first competition. He felt devastated after missing an obstacle, which made Matthew and me realize how challenging this ninja journey could be. However, simultaneously, I understood that he was learning valuable lessons about resilience and imperfection.

He didn’t let failures discourage him; in fact, they spurred him on. After each setback, he would immediately head outside once we returned home. Ninja training became not just his passion but also his primary coping skill.

Last year, he qualified for the World Ninja League Competition in Greensboro, but Matthew and I knew he wasn’t fully prepared. Despite his love for ninja, like any typical 9-year-old, he also enjoyed various sports he encountered. We wanted him to grasp that such a financial commitment required genuine dedication.

After watching others compete last year from home, he turned to us and declared he wanted to go all in… and he truly has. Other parents have asked me how we motivate him. I tell them we don’t need to; sometimes, we worry about how deeply he desires this dream.

This year, he has achieved significant success, but along with that, he has also faced heartache. As a parent, it would be easier if he didn’t care so deeply, but he does. A frightening fall during a major competition was particularly tough. Beyond the physical scare, the hardest part was witnessing his emotional agony over not being able to finish. There were moments when I wanted to say “enough, let’s quit ninja.” Not out of fear for his safety, but because I dreaded seeing him endure more emotional pain. However, stopping him would mean crushing his dream.

He has expressed his goal to become an elite ninja by age 16, and I wholeheartedly believe he has the talent to achieve it. Yet, my struggle lies in anticipating the emotional challenges he will face along this journey. It’s not that I doubt his potential for success; rather, I am apprehensive about the inevitable emotional hardships he will encounter.

Isn’t this the essence of life? As parents, we naturally want to shield our children from pain and prevent them from taking risks or pursuing paths that could end in disappointment. But in doing so, we risk stifling their dreams. How can we possibly deter a child who has independently chased his dream for 60% of his life? I’ve concluded that the anguish of halting him would outweigh any hardships he might face on this journey.

On Saturday night, he will step forward to compete. Standing at the starting podium, he understands that one mistake could mean waiting a year for redemption. Yet, he steps forward with confidence in his abilities and the effort he’s invested. He knows that if he focuses and gives his all, greatness is within reach. How can you hold back your child when they might face devastation, knowing at the same time they could achieve their greatest moment?

Keaton has a pump-up playlist that helps him get into the zone. While I may not always approve of some of his music choices (yes, I did introduce him to Eminem), there’s one song that I believe explains his journey:

I’ve struggled for years and
Through all of the tears
I’ve faced the doubts I hide
I never gave into my fears deep within
‘Cause I heard my voice inside
I know I was born for this
I know I was born for this

We are the warriors, who learned to love the pain
We come from different places but have the same name
‘Cause we were, ’cause we were
‘Cause we were, ’cause we were born for this
We were born for this
We are the broken ones, who chose to spark a flame
Watch as our fire rages, our hearts are never tame
‘Cause we were, ’cause we were
‘Cause we were, ’cause we were born for this
We were born for this