| Packing for shows with our children turns out to | | | | look to parents as role models and emulate their |
| be one of the most stressful parts of horse | | | | behavior — actions speak louder than |
| showing. In a recent survey, moms reported that | | | | words here. Engage them in conversation on |
| the stress of packing and getting ready for a | | | | topics such as how to improve packing, how to |
| horse show trumped seven other show stressors | | | | reduce the tension or how to split up the work. |
| by a wide margin. Here are some tips to enhance | | | | Teachable moments provide a great way to |
| the horse show packing experience: | | | | demonstrate, discuss, or learn a life lesson. |
| Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley | | | | Secondly, remember your child is in transition |
| How many times have you heard, "Mom, I forgot | | | | from pre-teen to teen and then from teen to |
| my boots!" Maybe it's,"Mom, where is my other | | | | adult, so tension naturally comes with the territory |
| sock?" How about, "Have you seen my choker?" | | | | for both parents and children alike. Take the time |
| or "Mom, I forgot the girth." My favorite of all | | | | to re-evaluate at each stage and make sure |
| time has to be the 6 AM call I actually received | | | | there is an appropriate level of responsibility and |
| from my daughter at our motel, "Mom I forgot | | | | as well consequences for poor behavior. Children |
| my saddle!" No matter how many times you | | | | are able to take on increasing levels of |
| show or how many lists you create or how many | | | | responsibility, so it is your job as the parent to |
| little talks you have about packing, something | | | | ensure that the assignment of responsibility |
| always seems to get lost, go missing, or be | | | | happens in a healthy way and is age- appropriate. |
| forgotten in the preparation madness to get to | | | | To ease the tension, I suggest moms think about |
| the next show. | | | | packing tasks as a partnership — you each |
| It's no wonder that packing for shows with our | | | | have your jobs to get ready for the show. In this |
| children turns out to be one of the most stressful | | | | division of labor, the mom and child can become |
| parts of horse showing. In a recent survey, | | | | partners and divide up the work. It was this |
| moms reported that the stress of packing and | | | | mindset that helped me step out of the |
| getting ready for a horse show trumped seven | | | | mother-daughter-teen roles. My daughter and I |
| other show stressors by a wide margin. | | | | created separate jobs for each of us. |
| This fact shouldn't surprise any of us. We are | | | | Consequently, while she ran around looking for |
| parents with hectic schedules and busy children. | | | | show clothes, I got the food and drinks packed in |
| Normal pre-show jitters, combined with pre-trip | | | | the cooler and the car packed with my list of |
| pressure-packed conversations and management | | | | items. Then, I got out of the way to let her deal |
| of a long list of necessary items for horse and | | | | with her own packing as I completed my to-do |
| rider makes one wonder if horse showing is | | | | list. |
| worth the effort? | | | | Third, organize, organize, and organize. Create lists, |
| This pre-show tension has several sources, | | | | get plastic bins for those collars, and find a place |
| according to show moms. A primary one is the | | | | to put items so they stay organized. Help your |
| child's last minute "throw it together" or "do it | | | | child learn about lists and how to get herself |
| tomorrow" attitude that drives many moms | | | | organized. Create a schedule of what has to be |
| absolutely crazy. Instead of breaking the large | | | | done four and three days prior to the show. |
| task of packing into manageable day-to-day | | | | (Remember to get the show coat to the |
| chunks, this child puts off doing any daily work | | | | cleaners). Vicki Davis, a show mom with |
| and instead runs around senselessly at the last | | | | extensive packing experience, took the problem |
| minute trying to get everything together. Without | | | | to heart and has designed a great set of luggage |
| a doubt, this is a sure-fire recipe for leaving | | | | just for the show family — totes for Mom |
| something critical at home. | | | | and garment and boot/helmet bags for riders. |
| Then, there is the chronically disorganized child, | | | | Check out for these great time savers. |
| who has put nothing away since the last show. | | | | Finally, keep in mind that "this, too shall pass." |
| Items needed for the upcoming show could be | | | | Horse showing is a great sport and there are |
| anywhere in their room, trunk or car. Of course, | | | | many quality moments with your children over a |
| this disorganization results in endless searches | | | | long weekend. You may feel like a pack mule who |
| under the bed, in the clothes hamper and under | | | | walks on eggshells and writes lots of checks, but |
| the seat of the truck or car. How many times | | | | in the end there are those moments when it all |
| have you had to say, "If you'd just put things | | | | comes together and makes it all worthwhile. And, |
| away when we got home, it would be so much | | | | good humor always helps. |
| easier to find what we need when we need it.." | | | | So, since I have just gotten the call that my |
| How can experienced show moms survive this | | | | daughter forgot her show pad, I am off to the |
| packing frenzy? First, you need be the parent. | | | | tack store to buy yet another. Here's to the |
| Your child is growing up and on the way to | | | | savvy horse show moms who always keep their |
| adulthood, so both packing and preparing for a | | | | checkbooks at hand! |
| show provide great teachable moments. Children | | | | |