Those with kids!!

[dotty1]

I used to pick my son up from nursery at 2.30, drive to the yard, he always fell asleep on the way, park next to the school and he was normally asleep for a good 1.5 hrs!!.
On non work days I used to drive him around til he fell asleep - fuel was a lot cheaper then.

 

[Ibblebibble]

I'd just like to say thanks for your posts and advice everyone who's posted. I was hoping to get some advice on how you coped and what you did. Thankyou for those who answered my question. I feel I have just been criticised though and in a round about way branded a bad mum, without actually being called this direct! I'm aware that fires can break out but I could also be in my car and have a crash. Life's a risk, no matter what you do. That's life and at the end of the day my daughter and my horses both mean a lot to me, that's why I'm on here!! I have to fit them both in! If I didn't bother with my horses and it was all about the baby, then I'd get slated for that! Maybe I can't win!

we'd all have to stay inside in padded rooms if we had to completely eliminate all possible risks from our lives yes you could fall off your horse and have no one to attend your child, but you could also fall down the stairs and be in exactly the same predicament!! so i suggest no more stairs for you until your child is at least 8 and able to phone for an ambulance

 

[aimsymc]

hiya, my daughter akways ha a nap around 1 oclock so i taje her to yard around 11 to do all mucking out, bring in, groom, even put boots on and leave tack outside stable. At 12.50 I put her in car and go for quick drive. Once shes sleeping I park just outside school, leave radio on and tack up. Always finished before she wakes up! Obv i dont leave her in car on v hot days! x

 

[FMM]

we'd all have to stay inside in padded rooms if we had to completely eliminate all possible risks from our lives yes you could fall off your horse and have no one to attend your child, but you could also fall down the stairs and be in exactly the same predicament!! so i suggest no more stairs for you until your child is at least 8 and able to phone for an ambulance

You are simply being a bit silly saying things like that - I have fallen off horses more often than I have fallen down stairs - and I do stairs FAR more often that I ride horses ... clearly one cannot eliminate all possible risks from ones life, but how much better is it to think ahead occasionally (as the OP is in fact!)

One thing about fires - was it not Ravenwood on here whose house burnt down caused by a fire that started by the sun's rays reflecting from a mirror and setting some curtains on fire. I have been paranoid about that since she told us about it.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

You are simply being a bit silly saying things like that - I have fallen off horses more often than I have fallen down stairs - and I do stairs FAR more often that I ride horses ... clearly one cannot eliminate all possible risks from ones life, but how much better is it to think ahead occasionally (as the OP is in fact!)

One thing about fires - was it not Ravenwood on here whose house burnt down caused by a fire that started by the sun's rays reflecting from a mirror and setting some curtains on fire. I have been paranoid about that since she told us about it.

Very easily done, didn't you ever burn ants with a magnifying glass as a child? Couldn't agree with you more

 

[CHH]

Hi, Just read most of the replies to you here and I think you will always get a massive variety of replies on such a widely read forum.

You are mum, do what you think is right, as I believe any mum would do.
i think your common sense already shows with giving the horse a complete year off.

I understand your predicament.

10months is young and a funny in-between age, my little one was on their feet ayt 9mth nno crawling and there was no way they wanted to sit in any form of chair - you would not believe their energy!
I also worked full time.

Horse riding did take a back seat, but I used the precious bits of time, even if once a week to work them inhand (i came up with so much to do) and also did little bits with them each day for say a couple of minutes.

As another has said - make the most of this age, you will hit preschool and all the new challenges soon enough.

I have shut mine (asleep in pram) in stable which is in same barn as arena, whilst have ridden for 20mins, don't aim for big sessions just make the most of the time you do have.

We're at the 'going to school' age now and have met the new challenge - previous I have got them to bed and then gone out riding (someone in house) but now they are awake and messing about until sometimes 8.30pm - which takes my chance to ride all those that need riding, but as hard as it is, I have learnt not to stress.

Small sessions, value and ustilise the time fully, and I did find some inhand focus made the world of difference to them too.

Balance is very hard, don;t start to fill yourself with feelings of guilt or stress that you MUST ride, inhand work gives them as much to think about as ridden work.

Be careful riding with no one around, I would nto risk that to be honest, unless on our super quiet schoolmaster who is the same whether ridden once a year or hunting fit everyday.
I did pick the ones I started to ride from our bunch and left the youngsters doing ground work, and just built it back up patiently.

The whole family thing taught me to get organised, be selfless, responsible and somehow find time for myself/my marriage and enjoying famiyl life.

Sometimes when I read the posts of other 'mums' on here i feel some reassurance too that we are all going through this challenge - not just me!

 

[Ibblebibble]

You are simply being a bit silly saying things like that - I have fallen off horses more often than I have fallen down stairs - and I do stairs FAR more often that I ride horses ... clearly one cannot eliminate all possible risks from ones life, but how much better is it to think ahead occasionally (as the OP is in fact!)

One thing about fires - was it not Ravenwood on here whose house burnt down caused by a fire that started by the sun's rays reflecting from a mirror and setting some curtains on fire. I have been paranoid about that since she told us about it.

of course i was being silly!! but you have to be realistic about life and the risks we take every day, the way some posts were heading it would soon be frowned upon to ride at all if you have children !! was just trying to make the OP see she wasn't being a bad mother as she felt was being suggested.

 

[Sauerkraut]

I have a 4 + 5 year old and can't ride the horses when they are not in school or bed. I know how hard it is to manage kids, work, horses etc. . I think the best idea so far was trying to maybe just find a local young girl as a baby sitter. Not as expensive as nursery and she could watch your little one close to the arena so you still have them in kinda sight.

@theory: I envy you on your yard! I wish we would be on such a big kids friendly yard. My YO is really nice but we are just us and kids get bored easily. They would love some more kids around.