Mommas, your babies grew up to be cowboys

Cowgirl Sass and Savvy by Julie Carter


When Waylon and Willie made the song, "Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," there were already generations of cowboys behind them and several more ahead of them.

The advice, while not wrong, didn't slow down the numbers of babies growing up to be cowboys.

With each generation of little cowboys comes a time to turn them loose on the world.

Each generation of mothers prays a little harder that their cowboys (and cowgirls) are prepared for what lies ahead.

In the realm of youth and high school rodeo, the journey, at times, seems endless.

Then one day the last rodeo is on the schedule, the trailer is loaded for the last time and those cowboys' and cowgirls' names are called by a rodeo announcer one last time.

A coming-of-age for them is brought on not by a graduation ceremony but by the last trip through a rodeo arena as a high school competitor.

Friendships and kinships formed over many years from toddler events to serious high school competition stand in danger of erosion by miles and time that had not been a barrier as long as there was "next year."

The excitement of a "job well done" by parents is touched on the peripheral by concern that these dedicated, focused young athletes will be able to continue in a positive forward direction in the world of young adulthood.

The "kids" see a blur of activity at the end of their senior year with the completion of academics along with their high school rodeo careers.

Anticipation and optimism erupt in high energy and the eternal belief that life is only going to get better forever.

Like the hands of time, nothing stops the natural progression of the momma's babies growing up and making their way into the world.

However, from my perch high on a fence post with my camera and from my keyboard that year after year has recorded their progress like a school-marm with a grade book; I can tell you with certainty that the world needs more kids just like them.

These hard-working, dedicated young athletes we call high school cowboys and cowgirls are polite, caring, giving individuals who would rather help each other win than take the honors all for themselves.

Over the miles and the years, they become family to each other and share in the wins and the losses, no matter which way the scales tip with either.

I do recognize it did not happen all by itself. There are legions of parents out there who cared enough to be there.

For some, they simply passed on the joy of the competition they themselves once enjoyed.

For others, they signed on because a kid desired to be part of it and the parents didn't have to look far to see the advantages of it.

No matter the reason, it was the hands-on raising of a child offered by years of supervised weekends of family support that formed a young adult that will independently enter the next phase of life a little worldlier than most.

It will be a few years before this round of graduates will fully understand the work, effort and sacrifices made by their parents to make it all possible, but parents don't do it for that reason anyway. They just do the best they know how to do and for rodeo America, this was it.

God bless those senior competitors who gave it their all right down to the last slam of the gate.

May your journey beyond this arena make an even better mark on the world than the one you left behind.

Visit Julie’s Web site at www.julie-carter.com for more photos and stories.