Ridecamp: [RC] kids/ distorted ideas

> Does anyone else wonder about the distorted ideas our children get >
from those > of us who like to distance ride?  She shouted, "What's >
wrong???"  > she was worried because we were back so fast. 

I could write a book on this. >g< I remember Josie pointing at flagging
by the highway when she was three telling a friend, "That's where my mom
comes out of the woods".  Now that she's riding with me a lot she
occasionally mentions something that sheds light on your topic.  Like, we
were driving along the valley and she said, "I used to think that the
mountain was flat."  I said, "What?" (our mountains *are* sort of
Plateaus) She said, I would look at the mountain and I didn't know it had
a back or a top and I thought you rode along the tree tops when you said
you were riding on top of the mountain". >g< I used to come home and tell
them "I rode through a cloud this morning".  She had all sorts of mental
images for that one.  I think she was a little disappointed at first the
first time she did it, but then thought it was really cool. 

I remember one Saturday morning when I got up late and walked through the
living room where the two little girls were sitting in pajamas watching
cartoons and they looked up, almost alarmed, and said, "What are YOU
doing here?"

This week I've been sorting and boxing up all their old keepsakes and
there are STACKS of drawings Josie did starting at age 4, each labeled,
"Me beating mom in an endurance race"  In the picture she always has a
big smile on her face as her horse is galloping a length or two ahead of
mine (of course I have a frown).  I thought back on that last fall at
Hahira when we cantered in with me thinking we were going to tie for 5th
at Hahira.  Right as we got to the finish line she pulled her horse up so
that she got 6th.  Funny that once she had the chance that wasn't what
she wanted any more.

It really is fun when they finally get to come along with you after
waiting so many years, but I highly recommend you trade her for "her" 3
year old and get her in line for somebody's retired horse.  We raised one
for Josie too, and he's still out in the field. He hasn't done a ride and
I don't trust him for her to be the one to break him in for a situation
like a ride.  By the way, now she's begging to do her first 100 and has
her goal set to be in the Pan Ams. She's inspired by Heather winning the
Pan Ams while so young and watches the video over and over. (hint,
mom...better enjoy *your* goals while you're allowed to give them
priority!)

Angie (loving every minute of it)

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