A Cowboy’s Wife

We always said if we had kids they would be born with little hiking boots on their feet and packs on their backs.  We wouldn't ever give in to “gender specific marketing”.  If we had a girl, we would get her soldiers, and a play toolbox, and a boy would surely get a kitchen set and doll.  Our kids would love horses, and want to hang out at our friends' horse and mule barn shoveling poop and throwing hay.  They would climb trees and because of our proximity to Grand Canyon National Park, be VERY outdoorsy.  Of course they would.  Oh yeah, we KNEW exactly how we would raise a child, and what that child would become.  We were very “new age gender sensitive” parents-to-be.

And we always knew we'd have boys anyway.  My husband was already planning out their basketball careers (VERY tall, basketball obsessed family), and buying tiny little cowboy hats and Diamondbacks gear.

Uh, huh.  Right.

When we saw the ultrasound that told us we were having a girl, I admit it.  All thoughts of painting her room a neutral tan or green, and not succumbing to marketing tactics aimed at keeping girls pink and frilly went out the window.  I went nuts.  Tore out of there to get to the mall and buy anything pink I could find – onesies, dresses, buntings, crib sheets, you name it.  The mall and Target became MY BEST FRIENDS!

So now our little darlin' is two.  Well, closer to three at this point.  She is at the age where Mommy is pretty cool, but Daddy!  Wow!  Daddy is her hero.  She takes horse rides on his back, loves to be up high hanging out on his shoulders, and thinks the sun rises and sets on him.  And she should.  Moms get that instant bonding at birth.  Dad usually have to be patient until it comes around to them.My hubby was, although at times when she would only come to me, I could see it hurt him.   But he's a tough guy.  He never talked about it, but I could still tell.

Oh, and all these things she does with him (sandbox, playground, learning to throw a baseball at two, GOLF!) she does in pink, frilly dresses.  My husband finally reigned me in from all the shopping “pink”.  We toned it down so she could decide for herself – tomboy or princess.  Or both?

We got both.  She climbs the monkey bars and goes down the big kids slides at the local playground, but does these things in the attire she chooses.  Nine days out of ten my daughter is hangin' with the boys at the playground, throwing balls around, and wearing a frilly pink dress and a little sun bonnet.  We bought her numerous ballcaps, but she prefers the pink bonnet.

And that is OK with us.  She is healthy.  She is headstrong.  She is loving.  And she is very, very UN-gender-neutral. 

She is all girl.

Watching her carry a bottle of nail polish to her Dad, hand it to him, and proceed to take off her socks and hold her feet in the air to have her nails painted was so sweet.  Watching my hubby, the man who wanted a tomboy, well, a BOY, paint those little piggies melted my heart.

So as we near Father's Day (less than a month away – don't forget a gift), remember those Dads!  The ones who work so hard for their kids.  The ones who patiently wait for the “Mommy Only Years” to be over, and for their turns to begin.The ones who teach their kids to swim, to ride bikes and horses, and to throw a ball in the backyard.  And yes, the ones who patiently paint the toenails of their tiny daughter as she stretches her feet out and smiles.

________________________       Art imitates life, and life imitates art. 

What I see every day influences what I create, so writing this blog and creating my designs are natural extensions ofwho I am.

If you are interested in viewing my designs, primarily for kids but also some cool stuff for adults and also doggies (who we all know are integral parts of all families) check them out at:

http://www.cafepress.com/sugarsprouts

See you around the mountains and canyons of northern AZ!

“If you don't laugh at life, it sneaks up and bites you in the ass!”