November is the season of giving thanks. For me, it is also the off-season for showing, which means I have a lot of time to think. Recently with all the Thanksgiving hype in the air, I have been thinking about what I am all thankful for. There's the obvious things: food, roof over my head, pigs. However, today one thing came to mind that I am extremely thankful for, and I know a lot of other people are too. That being said, this post is a Thank-You to my show mom and all the other show moms out there, because they seldom get the credit they deserve.
1. Thank-you for doing hundreds of loads of raunchy laundry- When you work with animals, you don't always know what's going to end up on your jeans at the end of the day. Only stock show moms know the special trick to get animal feces, purple shampoo, or other show day stain out of anything. The day after the show usually requires a couple loads of fowl smelling laundry, but do stock show moms ever once complain? Nope, and for that they owe the biggest thanks in the world. Thank-you for keeping our Polo shirts ironed and Buckle jeans stainless!
2. Thank-you for not asking "how much?"- It's hard to hide a smile when you pull into the driveway with that steer you absolutely fell in love with or that gilt you just had to have in the trailer. There's no doubt that Dad probably spent more than he was supposed to, and the truck ride home usually included the phrase "Don't tell your mom how much we spent.". However, when you pull up and your mom sees your grin, she doesn't ask because she knows you went over budget. She just rolls her eyes and mumbles something involving livestock driving her to drink. Thanks for not getting mad at Dad and me!
3. Thanks for learning how to be an expert chef in a barn- While corndogs and funnel cakes are good every once in awhile, they aren't exactly a fortified meal for a weeklong show. You understand that deep-fried foods can only be eaten for so long, and sometimes we just need your cooking to get through the next class. You usually have multiple crockpots lined up in a pen or stall with plates and plates full of fresh fruit and vegetables, which is not something you can buy from a fair food stand. Thank-you for being innovative and caring enough to figure out how to make a home-cooked meal in a barn and not letting your children starve!
4. Thank-you for keeping all our crap together- With shows comes a lot of paperwork, and let's be honest, that stuff is usually the last thing on Dad's mind when we're loading up the trailer. You may not help load the trailer, but you definitely bring some of the most important stuff in that plastic folder of yours. In reality, we would not even get through check-in if it wasn't for you. You keep us up to date on deadlines and all the other little details that are a big deal in the end. Thank-you for being our personal show-day secretary!
5. Thank-you for being our being our personal paparazzi- Very few show dads are experts with technology, specifically camera technology. They also usually have too much in their hands while they're sitting ringside to even have the ability to snap a few photos of us showing. Luckily, we have show moms, and they do not skimp on documenting every moment of their children's lives. Sure they aren't professional photographers by any means, but usually we can salvage a few killer shots. Thank-you for sitting on uncomfortable bleachers for long periods of time just to take a few photos of us!
6. Thank-you for being a buffer- There is no denying that during a show a fight will more than likely break out, which usually involves yelling at dad or a sibling. You do not sit back quietly and watch it all play out. You put us all in our place and aren't afraid to diffuse some heated situations. Now, you may act like a mama bear at some times, but we know it's just because you love us and don't want anybody threatening your bear cubs. In all honesty, fights would probably last a lot longer if you didn't step in. Thank-you for maintaining some peace and order on show day!
7. Thank-you for actually showing up- Many moms in America these days probably wouldn't want to spend their summers sitting on uncomfortable bleachers in barns for hours, just to watch their kid parade an animal for about 10 minutes. Show days can be hot. Barns can usually get dirty. Animals tend to stink from time to time. Showing is not the most glamorous or cushioned hobby a kid could have by any means. However, show moms do not miss a show. Ever. They are one of the few people you can guarantee to be sitting ringside every single class. They are also always proud of you no matter if you win or lose. Our support system would not be the same without them. Thank-you for always being there for us and loving us unconditionally!
Stock show moms put up with a lot, and there's no doubt they are pretty special people. During this season of thanks, be sure to thank YOUR stock show mom for all she does to support this crazy lifestyle we live.
1. Thank-you for doing hundreds of loads of raunchy laundry- When you work with animals, you don't always know what's going to end up on your jeans at the end of the day. Only stock show moms know the special trick to get animal feces, purple shampoo, or other show day stain out of anything. The day after the show usually requires a couple loads of fowl smelling laundry, but do stock show moms ever once complain? Nope, and for that they owe the biggest thanks in the world. Thank-you for keeping our Polo shirts ironed and Buckle jeans stainless!
2. Thank-you for not asking "how much?"- It's hard to hide a smile when you pull into the driveway with that steer you absolutely fell in love with or that gilt you just had to have in the trailer. There's no doubt that Dad probably spent more than he was supposed to, and the truck ride home usually included the phrase "Don't tell your mom how much we spent.". However, when you pull up and your mom sees your grin, she doesn't ask because she knows you went over budget. She just rolls her eyes and mumbles something involving livestock driving her to drink. Thanks for not getting mad at Dad and me!
3. Thanks for learning how to be an expert chef in a barn- While corndogs and funnel cakes are good every once in awhile, they aren't exactly a fortified meal for a weeklong show. You understand that deep-fried foods can only be eaten for so long, and sometimes we just need your cooking to get through the next class. You usually have multiple crockpots lined up in a pen or stall with plates and plates full of fresh fruit and vegetables, which is not something you can buy from a fair food stand. Thank-you for being innovative and caring enough to figure out how to make a home-cooked meal in a barn and not letting your children starve!
4. Thank-you for keeping all our crap together- With shows comes a lot of paperwork, and let's be honest, that stuff is usually the last thing on Dad's mind when we're loading up the trailer. You may not help load the trailer, but you definitely bring some of the most important stuff in that plastic folder of yours. In reality, we would not even get through check-in if it wasn't for you. You keep us up to date on deadlines and all the other little details that are a big deal in the end. Thank-you for being our personal show-day secretary!
5. Thank-you for being our being our personal paparazzi- Very few show dads are experts with technology, specifically camera technology. They also usually have too much in their hands while they're sitting ringside to even have the ability to snap a few photos of us showing. Luckily, we have show moms, and they do not skimp on documenting every moment of their children's lives. Sure they aren't professional photographers by any means, but usually we can salvage a few killer shots. Thank-you for sitting on uncomfortable bleachers for long periods of time just to take a few photos of us!
6. Thank-you for being a buffer- There is no denying that during a show a fight will more than likely break out, which usually involves yelling at dad or a sibling. You do not sit back quietly and watch it all play out. You put us all in our place and aren't afraid to diffuse some heated situations. Now, you may act like a mama bear at some times, but we know it's just because you love us and don't want anybody threatening your bear cubs. In all honesty, fights would probably last a lot longer if you didn't step in. Thank-you for maintaining some peace and order on show day!
7. Thank-you for actually showing up- Many moms in America these days probably wouldn't want to spend their summers sitting on uncomfortable bleachers in barns for hours, just to watch their kid parade an animal for about 10 minutes. Show days can be hot. Barns can usually get dirty. Animals tend to stink from time to time. Showing is not the most glamorous or cushioned hobby a kid could have by any means. However, show moms do not miss a show. Ever. They are one of the few people you can guarantee to be sitting ringside every single class. They are also always proud of you no matter if you win or lose. Our support system would not be the same without them. Thank-you for always being there for us and loving us unconditionally!
Stock show moms put up with a lot, and there's no doubt they are pretty special people. During this season of thanks, be sure to thank YOUR stock show mom for all she does to support this crazy lifestyle we live.