My kids are generally under-scheduled. When I only had one kid old enough for activities, it was fun to put her in things like ballet, but now that there are three of them, the expense and time commitment can be overwhelming, so we’ve really taken a step back from sports and hobbies and activities. If there were more hours in the day, I’d love to see them all as thriving pianists, highland dancers, soccer stars and cello prodigies, but alas. Our current situation allows for neither the time nor the funds to make all those things happen.
The one thing we have made work for Karenna is horsemanship lessons. Her passion for horses is one of the biggest and strongest forces in her life and this spring we put her in some lessons with a fabulous friend we know. Her knowledge and skill and patience have been just what Karenna needs to learn about horses and their behaviour, and how to ride and care for them. It’s pretty magical.
I am a city slicker through and through, so to see her so naturally embracing the wild smell of horse poop, the dust from the corral and the pony hair stuck to her pants, it makes my heart smile in a “wow, she’s just so her right now, who she was simply born to be” sort of way. I didn’t have anything to do with this dream of hers, but it’s so rewarding to point her in the direction to help make it a reality.
That’s terrific, Amanda – just look at how your dusty cowgirl shines!!
Look at her go! So great that you’re recognizing her passions!