Hi Readers: Just had to pass along this story. I’m Free-Range all the way — well, most of the way — but sure am glad we live in New York City. Not a tempting bull in sight (even on Wall Street these days!). — L.
Well, he’s 20 years old and his parents aren’t apparently being stupid about it (i.e. trying to exert parental authority or control where it doesn’t belong.) They’re worried — who wouldn’t be? I’m sure even people who grow up in that culture, even dads who have done it themselves, worry. And they don’t like it that he’s going to another continent — well, I’d hope no loving parent would actually LIKE their kid going thousands of miles away, even if they realized it could be a good decision. But they’re not standing in his way, trying to monitor him with GPS, or anything like that.
pentamom on
And BTW the title of the article is a bit ambiguous. When it says “Holds on tight,” it’s just referring to metaphorically hanging on emotionally. They’re not trying to “hold onto” their son and stop him.
Mika on
My friend’s husband was a bull rider – 15+ facial fractures later (after a bull stepped on his face) he quit. I don’t know what I would do.
Taylor on
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to the rodeo, but I’ve always thought the highlight of the event was “mutton busting.” These cute little kids try to ride sheep, who don’t buck, but do run around like crazy. As I recall the kids seemed pretty young, maybe 5 or 6 years old. The kids hold on as long as they can and everyone cheers their efforts, definitely the highlight.
Cookiemonsta on
Article says he was 12 when he started, or at least when he attended the camp that arose his interest. Awesome. Good on him. Glad it’s not me, but I’d be willing to give it at least a go or two. My theory on life for my kids and for myself is that you can’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. And you can’t get a balanced opinion on something only trying it once, so you’ve got to go at least twice for statistical purposes.
Scott on
Interesting. Bull riding is a pretty serious endeavor. My mom rode bulls when she was younger than that, in her late teens. This was back in the late 1940s when it was unheard of to see a girl riding bulls. But she was really tough. She didn’t do it for long though because she quickly realized that the big bucks you made was just barely enough to cover your periodic hospital bills, but only covered the cost of emergency care and not the life long costs of caring for a paraplegic or person in a coma.
Rachel on
Kids can always go mutton busting,sheep riding instead.
No one I knew did bull riding despite living close,and I like such events and nature so prefer to stay away from places like New York.
7 Comments
Well, he’s 20 years old and his parents aren’t apparently being stupid about it (i.e. trying to exert parental authority or control where it doesn’t belong.) They’re worried — who wouldn’t be? I’m sure even people who grow up in that culture, even dads who have done it themselves, worry. And they don’t like it that he’s going to another continent — well, I’d hope no loving parent would actually LIKE their kid going thousands of miles away, even if they realized it could be a good decision. But they’re not standing in his way, trying to monitor him with GPS, or anything like that.
And BTW the title of the article is a bit ambiguous. When it says “Holds on tight,” it’s just referring to metaphorically hanging on emotionally. They’re not trying to “hold onto” their son and stop him.
My friend’s husband was a bull rider – 15+ facial fractures later (after a bull stepped on his face) he quit. I don’t know what I would do.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to the rodeo, but I’ve always thought the highlight of the event was “mutton busting.” These cute little kids try to ride sheep, who don’t buck, but do run around like crazy. As I recall the kids seemed pretty young, maybe 5 or 6 years old. The kids hold on as long as they can and everyone cheers their efforts, definitely the highlight.
Article says he was 12 when he started, or at least when he attended the camp that arose his interest. Awesome. Good on him. Glad it’s not me, but I’d be willing to give it at least a go or two. My theory on life for my kids and for myself is that you can’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. And you can’t get a balanced opinion on something only trying it once, so you’ve got to go at least twice for statistical purposes.
Interesting. Bull riding is a pretty serious endeavor. My mom rode bulls when she was younger than that, in her late teens. This was back in the late 1940s when it was unheard of to see a girl riding bulls. But she was really tough. She didn’t do it for long though because she quickly realized that the big bucks you made was just barely enough to cover your periodic hospital bills, but only covered the cost of emergency care and not the life long costs of caring for a paraplegic or person in a coma.
Kids can always go mutton busting,sheep riding instead.
No one I knew did bull riding despite living close,and I like such events and nature so prefer to stay away from places like New York.