If You Gag When Mothers Blow About Their Kids, Skip on!

Sonny Boy is 5, only 5. He is the most amazing little kid.
I know as his mammy, I'm not entirely objective about these things, but it's true.

What amazes me about my little man. His good looks? His intelligence? His academic performance? Nope..... His bravery!

He has joined a class that has been together for two years, in a foreign school, speaking a foreign language and just stoically gone.to.school.every.day. Even when he had no clue what anyone was banging on about.

He has wandered around the playground alone, following me along the fence to wave a lonely bye-bye. He has come home with the occasional scratch and bruise from being pushed, shoved off his seat or hit straight in the head.

He has learned the language exponentially (in my humble opinion)
Much faster than his 3 yo sister (who's best friend speaks english)

I've been considering putting him in one of the local ski clubs all winter....but have struggled to find an "in" until recently.
One of the other "blow-ins" in the school. A military wife, suggested I enrole him in the military kids ski club. So last wednesday I show up at the base of the train to the local ski station and hand my precious little man over to a bunch of ( very cute) army guys who seem to have hundreds of kids milling around. This battalion is the 7e Battalion Chasseurs Alpin. A battalion specifically trained for mountain warfare. The name tranlates as the Battalion of Alpine Hunters. Nuff said!

Off sonny boy goes his anxious face pressed against the window of the train....waving a restrained good-bye. The train is packed. No-one speaks english. What.have.I.done????
I've sent my 5 yo off to the french foreign legion!!! Me bad bad pushy mommy.

A very long 2 and a half hours later I come to collect him from the train.
I asked one of the Alpine Hunters how he has done. They are non commital in a french sort of way.
He is "faible physiquement" (physically weak) The "premier etoile" level is too high for him, he is borderline. He lacks "entrainement" (training) "Good then?"

Sonny boy is parched, the sun has been beating down and he was skiing all day the previous day too. He has really enjoyed it and wants to come back next week for sure. He fell loads and they did mogully red runs (difficult grade) according to him....not the most reliable of witnesses I might add.

So the following wednesday we repeat the drama, with different Alpine Hunters and I put him in a lower group. He loves it. He had a bad fall and cried. The guys were kind and said he was "impeccable" and that he was well suited to this level or higher. Well actually what he said sounded like de-su. The anglo ear can't really differentiate between dessous which means lower, and dessus which means higher. Being the mammy that I am I choose to believe he said dessus...higher. I am so proud of my brave little boy. You can vomit now!