Stick Horse Parade

In early March, Abby's teacher sent a note home that read something like this:
"The Friday before Spring Break, we will be having a stick horse parade to end our Texas unit. Please use the attached pattern to create a stick horse for you child. Awards will be given for the best horse, the best cowboy(girl) costume, and the best hat. All children will receive an award for participating."

Somewhere within the first 24 hours, I mentioned to my parents that Abby was going to make a stick horse for school. Mom said they had several ideas on how we could do it, but I dismissed her, saying that Abby really just wanted to color it. So, she colored and glittered and allowed me to help make a cute mane out of yarn. It took a long time, and we were both very proud of her accomplishment. We even made a slight attempt at a cowgirl costume (thanks to a friend that let us borrow boots). Abby was not interested in wearing a hat, though.

As Abby rode off to school on Friday morning, I didn't really think she would win the costume contest but thought she stood a good shot at the best horse portion. Don't you agree?


When I picked her up that afternoon, I couldn't help but notice the other horses as they came out. Of course, there were a couple of store bought horses and a couple that were only colored with nothing else, but then, I saw the beauties. There was a pink stuffed horse with sparkles, glitter, and pink tafetta for a mane. There was a paint horse with a leather bridle attached to a fancy stick. There was a horse made of felt with real felt ears, google eyes, and a rope for reins. And then, there was Abby's horse...on a yardstick.

Needless to say, Abby did not win any awards that day and I certainly did not win Mother of the Year. Or maybe she did. Abby had spent a little time each day for the better part of 10 days working on her horse. The ideas were hers and the work was hers, other than a little help on the mane and hot glue gun. Anyway, Abby never seemed to notice or care that her horse was any "better" or "worse" than any of the others (and I most definitely did not point it out). She was beaming when I picked her up and could barely get in the car before she showed off her prizes and chatted all afternoon about how fun it all was.

For future projects, though, the term pattern means just that...pattern. My mother was right.

I will leave you with a little riding entertainment...



Untitled from Laura on Vimeo