Witchapalooza

When they started predicting snow and bad weather, I decided we had better hurry and fit in one more fun outdoor activity. I took the girls up to Gardner's Village to see the witches. We had fun walking around the village but after one trip into a shop, I was too paranoid that Brae would break something, that I didn't dare go in any others. They also have a petting zoo so when it was time to feed Berkley we headed over there. They had a bench just outside the fence so we plopped down there. Brae tends to react unpredictably to new experiences so I wanted to make sure she really wanted to go in before I paid. So I asked her if she wanted to go in with the animals, but she had seen the kids riding the ponies as we walked over and told me she wanted to ride the "horsies." They had five little ponies in a little fenced in circle, and I saw there were two chickens running around the pen. Most people don't know this, because I am reluctant to share it, in case someone thinks it's funny to play a joke, but I am terrified of farm birds. I'm getting sweaty palms and pounding heart just thinking about it now. I don't want my kids to have this problem, because it really is quite silly, so I try and be brave, but this is actually the second time it's come up. (First time involved two turkeys at the zoo, and me at seven months pregnant desperately running through a crowd then hiding behind a trash can, silly-oh I know) I kept telling myself I could do it, I could just be brave, but I also had a stroller full of my wallet, cameras, and shopping bag, and a 4 month old, so I told Brae she would have to do it herself. Looking back now it does not look to be my best mothering moment. She told me she would be brave, I explained repeatedly that she would have to be on the pony by herself, and that she couldn't cry or get upset. She just kept telling me she would be happy and that she wanted to ride them. We got ready and watched as the group before her rode, and I told her that the nice girl in yellow would help her, but that mommy had to stay with Berkley (and more importantly- on the other side of the fence of the chickens). Brae walked into the gate and tried to grab the worker. She told her she had to help the girl in front of her, and Brae melted and turned to me and started crying. I thought it was all over so I pulled her out and asked for sure if she wanted to go. She told me she was done crying and wanted to ride, and when the girl came back to the gate she asked where she was and Brae walked right out and got on the pony with her. I had told her to hold tight to the saddle horn, and she had a death grip with both hands on it but managed a smile. I was nervous that she would get scared when they started moving but she just kept smiling. The next time around she smiled and waved and the third time she went past the people, she started a parade wave and yelled, "Thank you, thank you" to everyone watching. The boy helping thought she was funny, and I told him her aunt was rodeo queen, and he understood :) I was really proud of how brave she was, and it always impresses me how much children really are capable of. It reminds me that it is okay to expect a lot of them, and to help them grow and reach milestones by themselves. She is such a little character, and I think one of my relatives with horses, needs to offer her some rides!