Rubber Boots

 (Originally posted 2/28/2018)

When we first started showing livestock, almost a decade ago now, I didn't own a pair of rubber boots. I hadn't ever thought of needing insulated overalls! I thought of that first year as I watched my boots sink down in the mud today during Regional show week. And, I laughed!

I thought this was kind of dumb. I remember being able to think of a hundred better things to spend so much money on. I remember watching my husband and oldest daughter blow drying calves' hair with our borrowed blower in our borrowed grooming chute and thinking what a huge waste of time this was. When we started this we didn't have a barn. Our calves were at my in-laws. I was going to school two nights a week, we didn't have much money, and we sure didn't have a trailer. My husband and my daughter would fight and I would usually roll my eyes and go back inside. I was absolutely sure that first year she would end up hating it and go back to concentrating on dance.

Fast forward to now. I have three children showing 6 different animals this year - two different species. I have 2 pair of rubber boots (I wore another pair out previously), insulated overalls, work gloves, 2 special show day totes (one insulated), and a ball cap that says " Barn Hair, Don't Care." Used to I never would have dreamed of eating in a tent with cows. Currently, I have a slow cooker full of hot dogs sitting in a wagon, plugged into a generator... In a tent with 4 calves. Seems completely normal to me now. My husband and daughter still argue in the barn.

This is my oldest daughter's 9th year and it has been her worst. It has been tough to watch, if I'm being honest.  While it breaks my heart for her, given that she only has one more year to go, this is why I have completely bought in and am walking around in mud and poop gladly: I've watched her lose with every bit as much grace as I've watched her win with. I've watched her be genuinely ecstatic for her younger brother's wins this season despite her disappointment. I've watched her celebrate her team's wins after she carried a 7th place ribbon out of the ring (or none at all.)

I've watched my kids lose at this with tears in my eyes, and I've fought tears as they've seen their efforts pay off. I'm thankful. I'm thankful we have trailers and generators and our own blowers now. I'm thankful to not feel like a rookie anymore. I'm thankful for the work ethic this has built in them...

I'm thankful for the losses. I'm thankful they can commiserate when someone else loses and I'm thankful they've learned to stick it out through tough years. I'm thankful they know that it matters how you treat people when you're on top because you can't stay on top forever.

I'm thankful for these rubber boots during this rainy week! And, I'm thankful I remember what it was like to not have them so I can maybe help a new show momma out and give her some advice. Or even just tell her, "Give it a few years. You're going to fall in love with it." I'm thankful for this stock show life I thought I was going to hate.  I'm glad this is what my children love and that they have drug me along with them... even if it has been right through the mud!