9 Rules Parents Throw Out the Window During Fair Week
We try to be good parents by setting boundaries for our kids. When it’s all said and done, we hope we raise decent humans who are kind, make good choices and respect others.
But let’s be real.
During fair week, that all goes out the window. We are parenting to survive. There are no blue ribbons for “Mom of the Week” or “Dad of the Day,” so do what you gotta do to get through the hot calves, grumpy barrows, whiny goats, bored lambs and tired kids.
To protect the innocence of all parents involved, here’s an anonymous list of good parenting rules that go out the window during fair week:
1. Eat healthy meals and snacks.
Fair week requires fuel – and fuel that’s “sealed” from shavings and dust. Oh sure, there are probably many pre-packaged nutritious snacks out there. But kids don’t like them. They are the snacks that live on for years in the snack tub and get overlooked for Cool Ranch Doritos, Fruit Snacks and Oreos. The reality is – even if you don’t buy those unhealthy snacks for your kids – they find them. There is power in numbers and these kids know how to come together when it comes to food and find the weakest links.
2. Don’t talk to strangers.
Although we typically may not encourage our kids to strike up conversations with strangers, when they are in the livestock barn with their animals, they are encouraged (and praised) for engaging with fairgoers in an attempt to help them learn more about livestock and agriculture in general. “We encourage kids to ‘agvocate,’” one mom says. “So much for ‘don’t talk to strangers.’”
3. Take a bath before bedtime.
After a long day at the fair, there is perhaps nothing more important than getting a good bath before bedtime. But when your kids are little, one mom adamantly believes swimming in the hotel pool counts as bathing. You’ve only got so much time and energy, pool “baths” are lifesavers and help build friendships along the way with buddies at the pool.
4. Don’t drink caffeine.
A lot of stock show kids are also athletes who avoid caffeine throughout the year...except for fair week. During fair week, some parents do crazy things like let their 9-year-old try her first Mountain Dew at 10 p.m. after the show ends because they know they aren’t going to be able to get her to bed for hours yet. May as well make those last hours of the day more fun for all!
5. Tell your parents where you are at all times.
Many parents agree they give their kids more freedom at the fair because they are surrounded by “their people.” Stock show parents look out for each other’s kids. It’s truly a family, one mom points out, and sometimes you end up getting more than your fair share of “children” at your pens. This is a good thing, so soak it all in while you can and be glad they chose to hang out near your family.
6. Get 8 hours of sleep.
The stock show life isn’t about getting a lot of sleep. It’s about doing everything you can to make your animal’s life better. That means early mornings and late nights, with little time for sleep in between. Parents, let that guilt ride when your kids don’t get a lot of sleep because they will recover at some point. In the meantime, equip yourself with extra patience.
7. Abide by screen time limits.
Your oldest child is getting ready to go into the ring and your youngest starts to complain that he is bored. As much as we know we shouldn’t do it, it’s acceptable during fair week to extend the screen time and hand them your phone. A quiet kid means a parent who gets to watch their sibling show. Sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.
8. Don’t accept bribes.
Bribing may be used from time to time to get little ones to behave during fair week. Although not normal practice, bribes of dipping dots or golf cart rides help parents who may be close to losing their mind survive a crazy show week. One mom who admits to the occasional bribe says, “The more kids and animals we have, the more desperate we get at times!”
9. Don’t miss curfew.
For the older kids, many stock show parents admit they modify curfew a bit during the fair because it’s often the only time they get to see some of their friends. However, one mom says, “We want our son to have fun spending time with his friends that he only sees at the fair after working hard all day long, but it’s a fine balance as we want to make sure he gets enough sleep so he can work all day and function again the next day.”
Despite what you think of this list of parenting rules that go out the window during fair week, I truly believe stock show parents are some of the best around. Part of being a good parent is knowing when to flex and when to stand firm. Stock show kids have a pretty intense schedule filled with commitments and responsibilities. Fair week is a great opportunity to loosen the strings a little, focus on building friendships and letting things like hygiene and nutrition go...for just a few days.
Photos submitted by Ellen Homann, Blake and Wravenna Bloomberg, Sarah Horner, Shelia Grobosky, Doug Hankes and Jennifer Shike.
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