I'm Obsessed

I would not consider myself to be obsessive-compulsive…much. However, from time to time I latch onto something and simply cannot let it go. Is it just me, or can anyone even say, “Let it go” without singing it? Sorry, I digress. It gets so bad sometimes that I literally dream/day dream about my obsessions. I find myself planning my life around these obsessions as if they were a reality. Most of the time, whatever I happen to be obsessed about is the very thing my husband despises or at the very least is the last thing he would ever want.

When my oldest was a toddler I just knew that he needed a sandbox, and my husband was even more certain that he definitely did not. I pushed and pushed, but his answer was firm. So, he went away to OCS…and Lance magically got a sandbox. When Steve got home and he saw how much Lance loved the sandbox he finally agreed it was a good purchase. That same sandbox lasted us through our middle child who literally depended on the sandbox to help him deal with life. I would say that was an obsession win!

There was another time that I was obsessed with Chihuahuas. I simply had to have one. A friend of ours adopted a Chihuahua from the SPCA that was pregnant. We agreed to take one of the puppies. I was so excited and so were the kids. We got to see the little puppy a few times after it was born. A few days before we were supposed to bring it home it died. I was devastated. I immediately got on-line and began searching for Chihuahua puppies in my area for sale. After finding some near by I called my husband, and the first thing I said was, “Are you going to do the right thing?” Needless to say, we got a precious little puppy that day who turned out to be one of our best pets ever.

My latest obsession is chickens and horses! I love them, need them, and must find a way to have them in my life. Two of my kids take horseback riding lessons once a week. The sweet girl who teaches the lessons also happens to have chickens. The three of us love, love, love going to her house each week so we can pretend they are all ours. We get to see the chickens, care for the horses, sometimes search for eggs, and ride the horses. Every Tuesday, all is right in our little world as we spend time with the animals.

Watching my kids interact with the animals has only made my obsession worse. My middle son has some special needs, but there are times when I watch him ride a horse that he seems just like anybody else. It is as if his special needs have melted away and he is functioning normally. This makes my heart soar and my eyes fill with tears of joy. I want him to have more of that in his life. He truly loves the horses and thoroughly enjoys his time with them.

My toddler loves animals more than anyone I have ever met. She loves ALL animals. When I ask her what kind of pet she wants, her reply is “lots and lots of animals!” She lives for Tuesdays when we can go see the animals. She has no fear. She will walk up to the horse, grab the halter and pull the horses face to hers so she can give it a kiss. When she is around animals, she simply comes alive.

I have seen my kids learn responsibility, self-control, confidence, compassion, and so much more because of their time spent with their lesson horses. My middle son really struggles with self-control and self-discipline. When he is riding a horse he has to be in control of himself if he expects to be in control of the horse. He has to trust the horse and the horse has to trust him. Both of my kids tend to be pretty impulsive, but handling the horses forces them to stop and think before they act or react around them.

Now, about my chicken obsession. My family eats lots and lots of eggs, and I mean lots! My oldest son alone can eat 6+ in one sitting (football players can put away a serious amount of food). I don’t know if you have priced pasture-raised, no growth hormones added eggs, but it is truly outlandish! How great would it be to just go out in my backyard and collect the eggs everyday for breakfast? Super, super great! Plus it would teach my kids responsibility as they help me maintain the chickens and their coop. I see this as a win no matter which way I look at it.

My husband is not nearly as excited about the animals as we are. We have tried to talk him into chickens and he refuses. He keeps telling us something about it being against the HOA or some kind of fiddle-faddle like that. For some reason he doesn’t think the horse will work in our backyard with the pool either. I think he is just being difficult. Would it be wrong to start a “go fund me” account so I can raise the money to move out into the country and buy all the animals my heart desires? I feel it is a worthy cause, don’t you?

I think I was born to be a country girl on a farm. For some reason it just hasn’t happened yet. It took God and me nine years to convince Steve we needed a third child in our family.  It took God almost 30 years to fulfill His promise to me that I was going to be a pastor’s wife. I wonder how long it will take to convince Steve about the chickens and horses? Anyone want to place a bet? All money will go towards my farm.