I didn't get a chance to post yesterday because I was working diligently on the two projects I would most like to see completed. I am almost done tweaking my book. Then I get to turn it over to someone else who wants to tweak it all over again. I have a feeling I'm going to be sick of my own work before this is over! Anyway, I am extremely excited to announce that our equine spa is up and running! We are still looking at some modifications to our driveway and putting in a permanent power source, but for the time being we are are using a generator. We are planning to put our first patients through the spa today! It has taken many hours of blood, sweat, and tears, (a few dollars, too) to turn this idea into a reality. We have dealt with issue after issue and things are finally coming together.
The spa we bought is manufactured in England. It took a very long and slow journey here by boat. There are only about 50 of these in the entire country. To the best of my knowledge, ours is one of the only two ECB spas with wheels under them. Our major issue has come from the fact that these things are not designed to be mobile, thus requiring a custom trailer and careful consideration about a myriad of other subjects. We are definitely still working out the kinks, but at least we can get started treating patients here at our home.
Today I am tired. Not just physically tired, but mentally exhausted as well. Mainly I am tired of being the one who says, "No." Do any other moms out there just get tired of being the killjoy in your family? Dad wants to say yes to everything. "Can we eat all 27 of these cupcakes?" "Sure, why not? It's Tuesday, after all." "Do we have to use our mouthwash? Can't we just skip it tonight? "Sure! Don't tell your mother." "Can we be Brownies? And cheerleaders? And join the soccer team?" "Of course! Why not?" It goes on and on. I really do get tired of being the one who threatens their lives because they refuse to shut up during Sunday service. And slapping a veto on the shorts and flip flops that they want to wear to church. Sometimes I just want to say, "Yes!" Yes, you CAN stay up until 10:30 on a school night to watch the same friggin' movie you've already seen 87 times because "it's on TV!" Yes, you can skip your bath and smell like pigs tomorrow! Yes, you can wear mismatched clothes and have stringy hair! Why, yes, let's eat cupcakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Yes, yes, yes! Let's just make life one big party, and I'll be your friend instead of your mom. I'm sure you'll find a great therapist who can get you all straightened out someday.
Now, we all know I won't do that, because I'm your mom, and someday you'll be blaming me for the way you turned out. So just know that I'm doing my very best to turn you into decent, kind, compassionate people who can eventually take care of themselves. Even if it means using that nasty little word.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
You Were a Kid Once
I have often said that reading the posts of some of my FB friends is like finding out what their psychiatrist is dealing with. But I think my favorite ones are the posts of childless people or soon to be parents who want to comment on the behavior of other people's children. That, or assess whether someone else fits their definition of a "good" mother. Let me let you folks in on a little secret: Be VERY careful what you say, as you may have to eat your words someday. I can guarantee that there will be times when your children are little that you will permit them to do things that you never thought you would. This seems to happen even more often when you have more than one child.
What got me thinking about this subject was a poll on a barrel racing website that asked people what their pet peeves at barrel races were. More than one person said, "Noisy kids." Still others said, "Barking dogs." Okay, first of all...you are at a public event in a public place. If there are people involved, you can be pretty sure that some of them are going to be parents.You are also at event populated entirely by animal lovers. Odds are that some of them are going to love an animal other than a horse.
Now, I completely understand the frustration with children who are turned loose on the world on a horse or pony they can't control. My horse was in a high lope in the warmup pen last weekend when a child wandered out in front of us at a walk without ever looking up. I'm still not quite sure how we didn't run completely over her. This particular pet peeve is the reason my children are not allowed to ride around unsupervised at the barrel race. Or in the warmup pen with forty other horses. They don't know how to stay out of the way, and I can remember as a child being scolded by someone at an AQHA show. Part of my job is to keep that from happening to my kids.
Dogs are dogs. They bark just like horses kick. They come with the territory at a barrel race. I agree, one that barks incessantly gets annoying after awhile, but most people have the good sense to leave those at home. Notice I said most people. There are exceptions to every rule.
But back to the parenting thing. I have always enjoyed watching my friends become parents and slowly start to realize what the rest of us already know. Motherhood is HARD. It's a whole lot of hard work sprinkled with moments of absolute wonder and bliss. Most of us are doing the best we can, but again, there are exceptions.
My friends who barrel race and become mothers look at me in a whole new way when they realize just how much effort it takes for a mother of three small kids to even get to a show. Wonder why my horses don't look like they've been kept in the barn with a blanket on? It's because they haven't! Between laundry, lunches, homework, supper, and housework it's a wonder they get fed some nights. (The horses, not the kids. Those little suckers want to eat every day! And more than once!) If it weren't for my husband, the horses might not get fed. Oh, well, at least they are out on grass all day every day.
Since I became a mom my life has turned into a traveling circus. I often wonder if barrel racing moms have to be even more dedicated than everyone else. They surely have to put more effort into just getting there. And they definitely have more background noise in their heads. When one of my kids announced that the other one was choking on a piece of popcorn three horses before my run, I can tell you that my head was no longer in the game! She's fine, by the way. "Choking" was a bit of an exaggeration. Girls are such drama queens.
All of this to say: Don't judge that mom so harshly the next time her kids aren't sitting perfectly still and quiet in a public place. More than likely, she's doing the very best she can. Odds are that she's tired, hungry, and needs to go to the bathroom. If she's lucky like me, her husband is helping her out. If she's doing it by herself, go hug her neck and ask what you can do to help. I'm fairly certain you were a kid once, too.
What got me thinking about this subject was a poll on a barrel racing website that asked people what their pet peeves at barrel races were. More than one person said, "Noisy kids." Still others said, "Barking dogs." Okay, first of all...you are at a public event in a public place. If there are people involved, you can be pretty sure that some of them are going to be parents.You are also at event populated entirely by animal lovers. Odds are that some of them are going to love an animal other than a horse.
Now, I completely understand the frustration with children who are turned loose on the world on a horse or pony they can't control. My horse was in a high lope in the warmup pen last weekend when a child wandered out in front of us at a walk without ever looking up. I'm still not quite sure how we didn't run completely over her. This particular pet peeve is the reason my children are not allowed to ride around unsupervised at the barrel race. Or in the warmup pen with forty other horses. They don't know how to stay out of the way, and I can remember as a child being scolded by someone at an AQHA show. Part of my job is to keep that from happening to my kids.
Dogs are dogs. They bark just like horses kick. They come with the territory at a barrel race. I agree, one that barks incessantly gets annoying after awhile, but most people have the good sense to leave those at home. Notice I said most people. There are exceptions to every rule.
But back to the parenting thing. I have always enjoyed watching my friends become parents and slowly start to realize what the rest of us already know. Motherhood is HARD. It's a whole lot of hard work sprinkled with moments of absolute wonder and bliss. Most of us are doing the best we can, but again, there are exceptions.
My friends who barrel race and become mothers look at me in a whole new way when they realize just how much effort it takes for a mother of three small kids to even get to a show. Wonder why my horses don't look like they've been kept in the barn with a blanket on? It's because they haven't! Between laundry, lunches, homework, supper, and housework it's a wonder they get fed some nights. (The horses, not the kids. Those little suckers want to eat every day! And more than once!) If it weren't for my husband, the horses might not get fed. Oh, well, at least they are out on grass all day every day.
Since I became a mom my life has turned into a traveling circus. I often wonder if barrel racing moms have to be even more dedicated than everyone else. They surely have to put more effort into just getting there. And they definitely have more background noise in their heads. When one of my kids announced that the other one was choking on a piece of popcorn three horses before my run, I can tell you that my head was no longer in the game! She's fine, by the way. "Choking" was a bit of an exaggeration. Girls are such drama queens.
All of this to say: Don't judge that mom so harshly the next time her kids aren't sitting perfectly still and quiet in a public place. More than likely, she's doing the very best she can. Odds are that she's tired, hungry, and needs to go to the bathroom. If she's lucky like me, her husband is helping her out. If she's doing it by herself, go hug her neck and ask what you can do to help. I'm fairly certain you were a kid once, too.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
It's official!
I am excited to say that I have officially pulled the trigger on my book project! I just got off the phone with my project manager and the paperwork is on its way. My blog posts may be a little scarce for the next few days while I try to wrap up all the loose ends, but I am ready to put this project to bed and start on another one! Let the adventure begin! :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
It's just me eating chips!
I have said before that our first children were our "practice kids." While we have most definitely made mistakes the second time around, at least they are usually different ones. I was marveling last night at how much my parenting has changed since the twins were babies. I freely admit that there are things I would never have allowed them to do that my baby gets away with on a daily basis. Last night we loaded up the kids and went to look at a horse two hours from my house. On a school night. Gasp! On the way out the door, my husband scooped up our barefoot two year old and said, "Get her shoes." Yep. No problem. Except that I didn't. In my haste to pack diapers, snacks, extra clothes, my stuff, more snacks, and a sippy cup, I forgot to pick up her stinking shoes.
We arrived at our destination, I hopped out of the Suburban, opened her door...and realized that she was still barefoot. A rapid search of my car revealed the awful truth. Her shoes were sitting next to the door at home. Now, first-time mommy me would have said, "Well, she'll just have to sit in the car." And then been horrified at my mistake and worried the whole time that the other people there were thinking about what an awful redneck mother I was. There is NO way I would have consented to my children running around barefoot, in a barn of all places. New, tired, and improved mommy me said, "Well, she needs a bath, anyway. Girls, help me keep your sister away from the horses." Hey, I'm a veterinarian. I have access to dewormer. They probably all need a dose, anyhow.
I am happy to report that my baby still has all her toes, and as far as I know hasn't contracted any animal diseases. Her feet did come clean, and the lady at the barn was way too eager to tell me about her friend who dressed her daughter and made it to church, only to discover that she'd forgotten to put a diaper on the baby. I've decided that it happens to everyone, they just don't tell you about it.
As we were making our way home, the girls were snacking in the backseat. I had grabbed several bags of chips and various other snacks, thrown them in a bag, and told them to help themselves. Also something first-time mommy NEVER would have done. I didn't think much about the crunching I heard behind me until I realized that it was coming from right behind me. I turned around to find my two year old with a family size bag of Ruffles in her lap, crunching contentedly while she watched a Barbie movie on the DVD player. Her dad almost fell over laughing, then really got beside himself when she looked at us and with excellent enunciation and clarity said, "Don't worry, Daddy. It's just me eating chips!" To which he responded, "Baby, if you can explain it that well, you can have all the chips you want!"
Yes, my husband is definitely a fan of new and improved mommy. We no longer follow a schedule with military precision. My kids run, play, get dirty, and occasionally hurt themselves. I have managed to beat my OCD down with a stick and tolerate toys on the floor day and night. Heck, I even kept myself under control when the baby rescued a paper towel roll from the garbage can so she could use it for a telescope. (I did make sure it was the only thing in the can before I let her have it.) Maybe I've gotten older. Maybe I've gotten tired. Maybe I learned some things the first time around. Or maybe I've just given up. Either way, my kids and their dad are having fun. And that's what this whole thing is supposed to be about.
We arrived at our destination, I hopped out of the Suburban, opened her door...and realized that she was still barefoot. A rapid search of my car revealed the awful truth. Her shoes were sitting next to the door at home. Now, first-time mommy me would have said, "Well, she'll just have to sit in the car." And then been horrified at my mistake and worried the whole time that the other people there were thinking about what an awful redneck mother I was. There is NO way I would have consented to my children running around barefoot, in a barn of all places. New, tired, and improved mommy me said, "Well, she needs a bath, anyway. Girls, help me keep your sister away from the horses." Hey, I'm a veterinarian. I have access to dewormer. They probably all need a dose, anyhow.
I am happy to report that my baby still has all her toes, and as far as I know hasn't contracted any animal diseases. Her feet did come clean, and the lady at the barn was way too eager to tell me about her friend who dressed her daughter and made it to church, only to discover that she'd forgotten to put a diaper on the baby. I've decided that it happens to everyone, they just don't tell you about it.
As we were making our way home, the girls were snacking in the backseat. I had grabbed several bags of chips and various other snacks, thrown them in a bag, and told them to help themselves. Also something first-time mommy NEVER would have done. I didn't think much about the crunching I heard behind me until I realized that it was coming from right behind me. I turned around to find my two year old with a family size bag of Ruffles in her lap, crunching contentedly while she watched a Barbie movie on the DVD player. Her dad almost fell over laughing, then really got beside himself when she looked at us and with excellent enunciation and clarity said, "Don't worry, Daddy. It's just me eating chips!" To which he responded, "Baby, if you can explain it that well, you can have all the chips you want!"
Yes, my husband is definitely a fan of new and improved mommy. We no longer follow a schedule with military precision. My kids run, play, get dirty, and occasionally hurt themselves. I have managed to beat my OCD down with a stick and tolerate toys on the floor day and night. Heck, I even kept myself under control when the baby rescued a paper towel roll from the garbage can so she could use it for a telescope. (I did make sure it was the only thing in the can before I let her have it.) Maybe I've gotten older. Maybe I've gotten tired. Maybe I learned some things the first time around. Or maybe I've just given up. Either way, my kids and their dad are having fun. And that's what this whole thing is supposed to be about.
Monday, September 10, 2012
It's your choice...
After our hectic weekend spent barrel racing in Tunica, now I need a weekend to recover from my weekend! We had a great time, and my twin girls got to enter their first really big show on their pony, Rebel. He is at least 35 (the first kid he raised is married with kids now, so we know about how old the pony is) and will still try to run if the girls will let him. They did great! Their runs weren't quite fast enough to place, but they were a little nervous. Their dad and I were really proud. I was trying to film them with my iPad and I don't think I breathed the entire time they were in the arena, so the fact that I didn't pass out is probably an accomplishment. Rebel tolerated the glitter rainbow on his rear end pretty well, and earned himself a new nickname, Glitterbutt. As their dad was applying said glitter, the girls were instructing him on where to put it. After he had put on red, silver, and blue, he asked, "Girls, do you want me to leave it like this, like an American flag?" They immediately replied with, "No! We want you to use all the colors. We have to give green a chance!" Damn political correctness. See what they are teaching my kids?
Anyway, before we left I was marveling at how quickly these kids develop a mind of their own. They have an opinion on everything, and they're not afraid to share. Didn't this happen too quickly? I mean, aren't there supposed to be a few more years where mom and dad are always right? I thought kids didn't get crabby and opinionated until they were thirteen. Shouldn't that be a rule? I think so.
The other day their dad was getting ready to take them to their Wednesday night church group. He had on an Under Armour type shirt and some soft basketball shorts. As he walked out of the house, the following conversation took place.
Child: Um, Dad, is that what you're wearing to church?
Dad: Yep.
Child: Really?
Dad: Yes. Is there something wrong with what I have on?
Child (tilting her head to the side): Well, it's your choice. I mean, wear whatever you want. But those look like underwear.
Ah, yes, my little fashionista. She doesn't care what she wears to school as long as no one's ever seen it before. I can hardly wait for the teenage years!
Anyway, before we left I was marveling at how quickly these kids develop a mind of their own. They have an opinion on everything, and they're not afraid to share. Didn't this happen too quickly? I mean, aren't there supposed to be a few more years where mom and dad are always right? I thought kids didn't get crabby and opinionated until they were thirteen. Shouldn't that be a rule? I think so.
The other day their dad was getting ready to take them to their Wednesday night church group. He had on an Under Armour type shirt and some soft basketball shorts. As he walked out of the house, the following conversation took place.
Child: Um, Dad, is that what you're wearing to church?
Dad: Yep.
Child: Really?
Dad: Yes. Is there something wrong with what I have on?
Child (tilting her head to the side): Well, it's your choice. I mean, wear whatever you want. But those look like underwear.
Ah, yes, my little fashionista. She doesn't care what she wears to school as long as no one's ever seen it before. I can hardly wait for the teenage years!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Visit
I had some really funny material to blog about today, and I intended to get a post written this afternoon. Instead I spent my time doing something incredibly painful but infinitely more important. As I was finishing up my last minute errands before leaving town tomorrow, I decided to visit my friend Beth. She is slowly but surely losing her long, long battle with breast cancer. She "looks" like a cancer patient now, confined to her bed and no longer able to sit and chat with me her living room. Her thoughts are much different from the ones that used to make me laugh out loud. Her eyes are sad, and her voice is heavy with the enormity of what is happening to her. My heart is breaking for her and her family. She has filled an enormous void for me, helping me to understand what my own mother was thinking and feeling as her illness progressed. I have done my best to help her see things from her teenage daughters' point of view. I am completely confident that I know why our paths crossed in this life. After our conversation today, I am also glad to know that our relationship has meant as much to her as it has to me.
She did make me laugh today, just like she always does, when out of the blue she declared, "I have decided that I'm going to croak next week." Without thinking I replied, 'Then I'm glad I came by today!" It hurts me to see such a sweet and gentle soul enduring something so horrible. If there's any justice out there, I'm thinking she should get her wish, even though I'm going to miss her company so very much. Hug the people you love today. It's like I told her...those of us who are "healthy" are rocking right along thinking we have all the time in the world. Maybe we do. Maybe we have years and years to love our husbands and our children well. But maybe we don't. Maybe next week is our week. It's worth considering. And now I'm going to kiss my babies.
She did make me laugh today, just like she always does, when out of the blue she declared, "I have decided that I'm going to croak next week." Without thinking I replied, 'Then I'm glad I came by today!" It hurts me to see such a sweet and gentle soul enduring something so horrible. If there's any justice out there, I'm thinking she should get her wish, even though I'm going to miss her company so very much. Hug the people you love today. It's like I told her...those of us who are "healthy" are rocking right along thinking we have all the time in the world. Maybe we do. Maybe we have years and years to love our husbands and our children well. But maybe we don't. Maybe next week is our week. It's worth considering. And now I'm going to kiss my babies.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Six Year Old Logic
For those who've wondered, I'm still alive and well. The last week has been completely frantic. Every time I try to catch my breath I realize that there's something else that HAS to be done. Today! No wait, yesterday. Anyway, I spent the morning at the trailer manufacturer watching three guys put our new horse spa into our custom trailer. They insisted that one of us be there to supervise the installation, so that we didn't end up with the unit in the trailer backwards or some other such issue.
And may I say, the whole affair was some nerve wracking stuff! There's nothing quite like watching someone hoist your very sizable investment into the air with a forklift and squeeze it into a hole that's only slightly larger than the machine. To top it off, the guy driving the forklift wanted to be a comedian. Hey dude, the time to joke around with me is not while I'm watching you screw with my new source of income. I don't really have a sense of humor about that. I'm just saying.
I am extremely happy to report that after many, many delays the spa is now in the trailer and waiting to be hooked up. Once we know that we have power we can get the technician over here to start training us. I am excited about the prospect of getting to use my degree again. I have loved every moment of being a stay at home mom...OK, wait. That's a lie. I have loved ALMOST every moment of being a stay at home mom. I did, however, spend a ton of time, money, and effort earning a degree before I was someone's mom. So even though I'm not going back to work full time, I am looking forward to treating and preventing injuries with our spa. We are going to run it here at home as well as taking it to some events. Hello, retirement plan!
I love to listen to my girls talk to one another, especially when they don't know that I'm listening. The other day they had the following conversation.
Child 1: Is China farther away than Disney World?
Child 2: Yes, it's much farther, I think.
Child 1: Can you drive there?
Child 2: No, it's too far away for that.
Child 1: Then how do you get there?
Child 2: You can take a boat. Or maybe a plane. It takes a lot of hours. You can sleep on the way there, it takes so long.
Child 1: Oh. Well, if it takes so long, then what about the driver? How do they get to sleep?
Child 2: Well, they have two drivers. One can sleep while the other one drives.
Child 1: Oh, okay. Well, what if the floor or the roof of the plane falls off?
Child 2: That won't happen. I mean, unless they like, hit a bird or something. Even then, it wouldn't hurt the plane, because, I mean, a plane's made out of metal, and a bird's made out of...bird.
Six year old logic! Gotta love it!
And may I say, the whole affair was some nerve wracking stuff! There's nothing quite like watching someone hoist your very sizable investment into the air with a forklift and squeeze it into a hole that's only slightly larger than the machine. To top it off, the guy driving the forklift wanted to be a comedian. Hey dude, the time to joke around with me is not while I'm watching you screw with my new source of income. I don't really have a sense of humor about that. I'm just saying.
I am extremely happy to report that after many, many delays the spa is now in the trailer and waiting to be hooked up. Once we know that we have power we can get the technician over here to start training us. I am excited about the prospect of getting to use my degree again. I have loved every moment of being a stay at home mom...OK, wait. That's a lie. I have loved ALMOST every moment of being a stay at home mom. I did, however, spend a ton of time, money, and effort earning a degree before I was someone's mom. So even though I'm not going back to work full time, I am looking forward to treating and preventing injuries with our spa. We are going to run it here at home as well as taking it to some events. Hello, retirement plan!
I love to listen to my girls talk to one another, especially when they don't know that I'm listening. The other day they had the following conversation.
Child 1: Is China farther away than Disney World?
Child 2: Yes, it's much farther, I think.
Child 1: Can you drive there?
Child 2: No, it's too far away for that.
Child 1: Then how do you get there?
Child 2: You can take a boat. Or maybe a plane. It takes a lot of hours. You can sleep on the way there, it takes so long.
Child 1: Oh. Well, if it takes so long, then what about the driver? How do they get to sleep?
Child 2: Well, they have two drivers. One can sleep while the other one drives.
Child 1: Oh, okay. Well, what if the floor or the roof of the plane falls off?
Child 2: That won't happen. I mean, unless they like, hit a bird or something. Even then, it wouldn't hurt the plane, because, I mean, a plane's made out of metal, and a bird's made out of...bird.
Six year old logic! Gotta love it!
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