Yesterday, for reasons far too complicated and boring to explain, Mia and I drove out into semi-rural Virginia to visit a horse farm. I call it semi-rural because it is mostly farmland and vineyards with neighborhoods of million-plus dollar homes sprinkled throughout seemingly at random. Note for anyone who ever considers such a thing, before you move gobs of rich people out to the country, you really need to expand all those two-lane country roads, or everyone will spend hours a day sitting in traffic in their Hummers. Since I left early enough to miss the traffic, I just pointed and laughed.
The drive was nice. Mia behaved herself and had a great time mooing at the cows and baa-ing at the sheep and looking quizzically at the goats. She expressed an interest in taking a bath in every pond we passed and giggled at the pick-up trucks and silos. When we got to the farm, there were four or five dogs wandering around outside the barn, which thrilled her little soul and caused peals of amazing toddler laughter, while I broke into a sweat trying to make sure none of them were about to attack the defenseless child strapped to my back.
To find the friend I was looking for, we had to go into the horse barn. Have I mentioned that I hate horses? I know that I have, and every time I do someone tells me that I am a horrible person and horses are magnificent creatures and they are never reading my site again, so let me save you the trouble there and say 1) good riddance and 2) shove it because 3) I hate horses. Ok, so I'm weak-kneed, cry-like-a-baby terrified of horses. Same difference.
Mia loved the horses. Loved them so much that she told her Dada about them (several times) when he got home. And now I can see my future. Mia isn't going to rebel and break her mother's heart by being a cheerleader or entering beauty pageants or even turning Republican. No, Mia is going to ride horses, and I am going to have to smile and applaud and cheer without hiding under my car and sobbing.
Parenting is hard.
Comments (38)
oooh horses!!! It's ok that you don't like them. But they are really cool.
As long as Mia doesn't make you ride the horse too, I guess you'll be ok.
Posted by jessica | March 20, 2007 9:51 AM
I totally agree with you - horses are just so HUGE!! That's what scares me. Last year my husband finally conviced me to go into the horse barn at the MN state fair, I didn't let go of him the entire time. Never again, I say.
Posted by Colleen | March 20, 2007 9:56 AM
"Parenting is hard"
That says it all.
Posted by ktjrdn | March 20, 2007 9:57 AM
My paralegal owns horses, so let me know if you need a horse connection.
Posted by jodi | March 20, 2007 9:58 AM
At least you have a BIG critter to fear,... imagine now silly it is to watch me cower in fear over a spider. And I wish I was kidding...
Posted by Heather | March 20, 2007 10:03 AM
yes indeed!
Posted by Tuesday | March 20, 2007 10:31 AM
With me it's small stinging or biting things. I'm still not over it and probably never will be but I've steeled myself to not run screaming from the room. I somehow manage to deal with the bee, wasp, black widow.
And heights. I can't even watch a ferris wheel, let alone go on one. The second step of a ladder is about my limit.
Posted by ann adams | March 20, 2007 10:34 AM
What? No cute pics of Mia with the cows and horses??? I feel robbed.
Posted by coolchick | March 20, 2007 10:55 AM
It's funny how we go into parenting with an idea of what it will be like, and what our kids will be like, and it turns out to be mind blowing how much it strays from our original ideas. I am constantly amazed at how my son challenges me every day, and makes me face the stuff I hate the most. Like spiders...I hate them, scared to death of them, but he won't touch them either so I have to be the spider killer. But I feel your pain. I doubt Colin will want to ride one when he's older
Posted by Felicia | March 20, 2007 11:05 AM
You are a horrible person, horses are magnificent creatures and I am never reading your site again! . . . unless I want to know what you are doing tomorrow.
Posted by Emily Jane | March 20, 2007 11:30 AM
I don't hate horses, but they really are some of the stupidest creatures.
Posted by heels | March 20, 2007 12:05 PM
Is there no way we can get you to a happy medium regarding horses? You don'thave to love them but I also don't want you to have to hide under your vehicle.
Let me chew on this for a while, will report back..
Posted by Wicked H | March 20, 2007 12:14 PM
On a fun note, the ASL sign for horse is kind of cute. Certainly better than the one for dog.
Posted by Jen | March 20, 2007 12:16 PM
I'll turn her to the dark side of Republicanism or worse Libertarianism! You are so my bizzaro. I grew up with horses and I like crunchy food.
~Jef
Posted by Edge | March 20, 2007 12:27 PM
Wow. I'm with you on the horses - hate them. I wouldn't mind in the least if they disappeared from the earth today.
My own encounter with horses, if you care - my boyfriend's father is a farrier (he shoes horses for a living) and the first time I went to their house? Yep. I had to meet the resident horses. Of course, I cowered in the corner the whole time, trying to not have my feet stepped on. What kind of first impression is that for someone who might someday become an in-law??
Posted by Jen | March 20, 2007 12:45 PM
I've never 'met' another person that's terrified of horses like I am. They're just so big! You're braver than I!
Posted by Elise | March 20, 2007 12:54 PM
How funny! I love horses and my daughter is the one somewhat afraid of them!! My worst fears for my daughter are still of the cheerleader/beauty pageant variety.
Posted by jsee | March 20, 2007 12:54 PM
we so hope that bee is not a horse girl. can't stand horse girls. of course, every time bee cries her dad is ready to run out and buy her a pony. so how do you feel about ponies?
Posted by kgirl | March 20, 2007 2:18 PM
She can have all my old riding stuff. And good for you! I know what a big deal that was and you must have done a great job since she didn't pick up on your fears.
My mom was never afraid of my actual horse, just watching me in y jumping competitions. For every horseshow she would buy a HUGE pack of Twizzlers. And gnaw on them ALL WEEKEND LONG.
So maybe you can try that.
Posted by samantha jo campen | March 20, 2007 2:22 PM
I can relate to the horse fear, except mine is focused around ducks and geese. Also sometimes dogs or bees. But especially geese -- I just can't stand them. But Grace loves all kinds of animals and I'm determined not to pass my fear on to her and so, like you, I just try to suck it up and not let it show. It's hard sometimes but, like you, I think it's worth it.
Posted by Laura GF | March 20, 2007 2:22 PM
Aw, I'm sorry you don't like horses. I love them ever so much, but I understand that they can be scary! If Mia does decide to be a rider, I know you'll support her the best you can!
Posted by Heather | March 20, 2007 2:31 PM
Aw, I'm sorry you don't like horses. I love them ever so much, but I understand that they can be scary! If Mia does decide to be a rider, I know you'll support her the best you can!
Posted by Heather | March 20, 2007 2:31 PM
What happens if she becomes a famous Republican horseback rider?
Posted by Maribeth | March 20, 2007 3:19 PM
there are worse things...
my kid thinks she's going to be the next american idol...well, in 2018
Posted by ali | March 20, 2007 3:38 PM
I don't love horses, so your fear (hatred) of them is fine with me.
But do you have to go out of your way to cultivate a love for them in Mia? Silly. ;)
Posted by Jen | March 20, 2007 3:53 PM
Then stop taking her to the horse farm, silly ;)
My Little loves horses. I mean, LOVES them. All I've heard about for nearly 2 whole entire years is horses. And I did nothing to cultivate it, honest...it just started. Be glad he's mine ;)
Posted by sweethomealagirl | March 20, 2007 4:11 PM
My sister was the horse girl in our family, and she had a beautiful, gentle sweet horse who would bring even a non-horselover like myself around. She also had a pony who was the devil. So don't let the size fool you. Ponies are e.v.i.l. But even ponies cannot approach goats for evilness. The goat would actually try to kill small children. Now that is probably more than you needed to know, but I am just saying - if you are going to have a mortal fear of a farm animal, I would not base it on size, I would base it on who has horns or a deadly gleam in their crazed eyes.
Posted by schmugela | March 20, 2007 4:45 PM
Ooh, did you go out in the Loudoun area by any chance? I only ask because I am such a local - I'm from rural NW Virginia, I go to Mason, and my grandma has owned a cattle farm outside Leesburg for the past fifty years, so I've always been in "horse country." And I wouldn't knock hating horses. I'm the only person I know who hates and fears water/swimming/boating/the ocean/excessively fast-running streams.
Posted by OrangePeacock | March 20, 2007 8:41 PM
Way more scary than the horses: the price of becoming an equestrian. Pompoms are much cheaper.
Posted by Danell | March 20, 2007 9:33 PM
Wow, I didn't realize that rebellion against the parents was starting so young these days - good luck!
Posted by Beth in StL | March 20, 2007 9:42 PM
I hate horses, too (hate = terrified). I grew up in the country across the road from people with horses, and their horses scared the crap out of me.
You are not weird or a horrible person. I'll punch any person who says otherwise. :)
BTW, this past Christmas we drove from Charlottesville, VA to Harrisburg, PA via US 29 and US 15. The last time we did that trip was about 4 years ago, and I couldn't get over all the freaking huge mansion subdivisions in what used to be beautiful horse country! WTF?!?!? There was so much traffic on Friday morning that it is now quicker to drive all the way west to I-81 to be on a freeway. Total bummer.
Posted by lori | March 20, 2007 9:59 PM
Gosh... So I guess if you're ever in Texas, I shouldn't invite you over to our ranch for dinner? Yeah.. we breed/train/stable horses for a living!
Oh well, we all have something we hate. Snakes are extremely high on my list. =P
Posted by Suzy | March 21, 2007 5:02 AM
Yesterday must have been animal noise day.
Wife emailed me complaining that the child was barking like a dog.
TV
Posted by Thomas Vickers | March 21, 2007 9:14 AM
Wait till you have to go muck out horse stalls to help defray the cost of lessons or the boarding costs for that pony you will buy her.
Posted by Frank | March 21, 2007 10:33 AM
I like horses when they are the movie theater screen or behind a fence where they can't get to me. Otherwise they scare me. AKA the reason at 35 and growing up in rural West Texas that I have NEVER ridden a horse. People find it hard to believe but those suckers out weigh me and I don't try to ride elephants either LOL :)
Posted by Felicia | March 21, 2007 11:24 AM
My mom's a rider.... And, my dad would tell you NOT to encourage Mia to be come a rider, unless you're one of those rich rich RICH country folk! ;) Sooo cute, though. The monkey loves horses, too! She loves going to the barn with my mom and I. :)
Posted by Haley-O | March 21, 2007 3:44 PM
I hate horses too. There, I said it.
Posted by iheartnewyork | March 21, 2007 9:20 PM
I'm very afraid of cats. Therefore I can't say I like them very much. That will probably make you block me from reading your site !
That's cool that you faced your fears and exposed Mia to the horses.
Posted by Heather | March 24, 2007 3:57 PM