Yesterday morning, right as we were getting ready to go out the door to school, the phone rang. It was one of the stables I had called regarding riding lessons for Carmen. They had an opening in a group lesson Mondays at 5pm, was I interested in taking the spot? (Was I interested in Carmen no longer feeling like I was neglecting her interests? Yes!) I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to book riding lessons for Carmen this fall. Meanwhile, all the other kids have been signed up and enjoying pursuing their interests. Gail, the riding teacher, said we could start right away - did that ever change my plans for the day.
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We got home from school at 3:45 which gave Carmen just enough time to eat an after school snack and change into jeans and cowboy boots before we headed out the door again, arriving at the stable around 4:30 to 'tack up'.
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Picking a hoof
Carrying the saddle - I signed Carmen up for Western riding, not English. She goes to a very horsey school, and many many of her friends take English riding lessons. I specifically chose to put her in something different from her friends because Carmen sometimes gets caught up in comparisons with others. Also, as I told her, our family background (though not me, specifically) is in Western riding.
The riding arena set-up is perfect. The walls are lined with mirrors for the riders to look in and check themselves in, it's heated, which will be important in the months to come, and the observation room is also heated. The glass windows to watch through don't make for the best photos, but there is also an outdoor riding ring, so I'm sure I'll eventually be able to satisfy my desire for clear pictures of Carmen on horseback.*
I did encounter two problems with riding lessons today. The first one will never happen again and had to do with my washable-but-holey crocs:
Seriously, I wasn't standing anywhere near the horse!*
The second problem will be an ongoing challenge: with driving, tacking up, riding, and *untacking* (what is the term here, Kelly?) Carmen and I were gone for 3 hours! Can I devote this kind of time to humoring an interest of a child? I'd like some kind of guarantee that these riding lessons will eliminate middle child complaints from Carmen now and forever.
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12 comments:
Three hours a week is a lot, but only because it is a lump sum. I am sure you insist on more than that for music practising in a week, right?
It does mean you have to be super ready for dinner and FHE before you go so they are ready when you get home though, doesn't it!
So excited for Carmen!
oh you are such a good mom...lucky carmen. she is a doll.
so your crock pot is going to be used a bunch on Mondays then? :)
(be sure to share any great recipes!!)
this brings back memories-- back when cass was in private ice lessons we had this type of commitment for us. in the freezing ice rink with little, toddling ellie in tow. seems like a long time ago. i sometimes still miss it. to see them doing "their thing" means so much, doesn't it? can't wait to hear about this adventure!
Yeah, I think "untacking" is the right word. I'll check with Brynlee for you!
It does take a long time! And our barn is (was) way closer than yours. I'm still trying to find a recplacement situation for Brynlee and Avery. I stopped shelling out for the dud lessons. Avery was getting no attention (or only half a lesson to "reward" the horse for being good), and Brynlee had not progressed in a year due to the teacher not caring. I'm not paying for pony rides, here! And, I still haven't found anywhere. I know Brynlee is feeling frustrated with me, feeling like some horse time was better than none. I've got to get moving on that.
I'm excited for Carmen!
What a fantastic thing for both of you. As for alleviating the middle child syndrom, that is probably the only thing that will work. May I tell you about my middle daughter, she told me once how she was lamenting about her family status and that we liked the others better then her and then she remembered some things we had done just for her, among them, packing the whole family up in Arizona with Thanksgiving dinner and driving to SLC to share it with her because she would be alone. It made her go hmmmmm and get past it.
What a great activity for your daughter! I don't know the correct term for "untacking" (I'd call it "taking off all the gear and rubbing down the horse" but that's time-consuming and also, probably wrong).
I have to say, English riding looks cool, but Western riding looks more natural, to me. Give me a man in Wranglers, glued to the saddle, any day over a man in jodhpurs, bouncing around. That's my western upbringing speaking.
You are such a cool mom! I'm afraid I'll have a hard time indulging interests like this but also know it's important for the kids. We'll see when they get older. Right now at 5 beginning soccer is doing the trick (yes)!
3 hours any night would be a big commitment. Maybe she could help you prepare dinner or a casserole Sun night to have it ready to throw in Mon while you're gone or right when you get home. I guess I'm mean but I say, make her help.
That is a ton of time--trust me when it come to commitment boy do I know what you are talking about. Remember my football woes? Lucikly they are soon coming to an end, but it's difficult especially when you have more than one child.
I am totally laughing at the description of Carmen's school. Very horsey. Hmm love it!
Yuck with the crocks--too bad Lisa wasn't around I am sure she would have sanitized them in a jiffy :)
Good thing those crocs are washable! (I do enjoy the mary jane ones.)
I love your last sentence SO much. Here's hoping this does the trick! It does sound like quite a time commitment -- you are great to do that for her, and she is sure to appreciate it.
3 hours! I think it's so great that you are devoting this amount of time to her interests. I always remember my parents and their almost indifference with my music. They knew I was good, but didn't push me and didn't spend that amount of time. You are such an awesome mom, and at least you are giving it a try - both of you! Yeah for Carmen - she looks like a natural!
What a good mother you are for spending 3 hours with your daughter. Now do you have to do that each time she goes? I have have a middle child begging for some gymnastic lessons. Still not sure if we are going to do this or not.
Oh - your crocs! Sick and wrong! I am happy to hear that she is riding. What a time commitment each week! But I suppose we as mothers would do anything to insure that our children are well rounded and feel like their own bucket is being filled. WAY TO GO MOM!
That is dedication. I hope she appreciates it, but it truly does look like her passion and worth the time. I feel like we have a ton going on with just one child! You are truly inspiring. And the crocs, well that's just sad! :)
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