Written by: C.J. Aragon

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This was taken from a friend of mine who is a great coach, Stacey Elias Martin. She has coached from the pee wee level to the college level and here are a few observations that we share.
After being around some of the best (and worst) parents and kids in the rodeo world, there are a few things I want parents to know about their little cowboys and cowgirls. This is about those kids that are internally driven to strive for success and are out there working all week for those weekend rodeos. Here are 5 things they want their parents to know…

1. Their fear of disappointing the people who support them and love them can be overwhelming and can cripple them in a competition. These kids WANT to win. They know YOU really want them to win and so they enter the arena with the weight of all of that pressure on their shoulders. The kids I have seen be amazing in the arena, never had to walk out and worry about parents that were mad/yelling/upset with them. These kids were free to lay it all on the line every time they rode in the alley so they won a lot more than the kid that was scared to make a mistake. We ALL want to win but is it worth losing the respect of our kids when we act like jerks by being loud, embarrassing, and insulting if they don’t win? I want to win as much or more than anyone but I try really hard to let my son know that as long as he gives it his best effort, win or lose, I love him and this is something we do for fun. Wins and losses will never be allowed to define who we are or change our love for him.
2. These days are numbered and when these kids are gone, you will beg for one more rodeo road trip, win or lose. I hear it from so many parents… “We can’t wait for high school rodeo to be over.” Then two years later they are wishing for one more trip to nationals with their kids because they finally realize how amazingly blessed we are, that we get to haul our kids all over the country every summer and make some amazing memories. The memories we make and time with our kids is much more valuable than any saddle or buckle you could ever bring home.

TO BE CONTINUED in August 15, 2017 issue…