Ok y’all… this whole braggin thing that Cowboy likes to do is about to drive me bat poop crazy!
For example, one of the things he loves to do when he comes home is to brag to me about how long his conversation was with our kiddos…it’s never ending.
Y’all have no idea what I put up with! Let me just tell ya how this started-
When our sweet, beautiful, kind-hearted kiddos went off to college to begin that chapter of their lives, this mama bear fell apart…no joke. I was pitiful.
I had so many mixed emotions. Our Sweet Girl started in Los Angeles and ended up at UT-Austin. Then our Boy Wonder went to KU on scholarship for pole vaulting. But seriously…Kansas and California? Why so far away? My heart was like a wilted flower that needed water. And, my kids were the water.
I remember the day we left each of them …I looked like a Garfield stuffed animal that was suction cupped to the back window of a car. I had tears running down my face along with my Loreal mascara. I was a hot mess! Cowboy handed me his blue bandana from his back pocket and I handed it back to him full of tears and a little snot.
Our conversation on the ride home-
ME: How could this have happened so soon? Did we teach them all they need to know to survive this crazy world of ours? How are they going to make it without me? I am their forever cheerleader, their biggest supporter and I am their mama.
COWBOY: Whoa, just calm down. They’ll miss US just as much as we do them. And we did a helluva job with them. They’re smart kids. They’ll do just fine.
ME: You mean they’ll miss ME.
COWBOY: No, I meant both of us. But if you’re gonna act like that, then let’s make a bet.
ME: You want to bet me that MY kids, who I gave birth to, will miss YOU more than they’ll miss ME? That’s a dumb bet on your end. I’ll take that bet.
The next evening:
COWBOY: Have you heard from the kids?
ME: No, have you?
COWBOY: I’m not braggin but I talked to Boy Wonder for 23 minutes.
ME: You timed the conversation? What kind of dad times a conversation they have with their child?
COWBOY: The kind that wants to win a bet. Did you hear from our Sweet Girl?
ME: No, have you?
COWBOY: Yep, I sure did. She needed to ask HER DAD a question. But I’m not braggin…or anything.
The next day I decided to call my kids to make sure that they missed me.
ME: (speaking to Boy Wonder) I’m calling to remind you that I gave birth to you, NOT your Dad. I am the one sporting a stretchmark on my right hip from you, NOT your Dad. So I’m gonna need a little phone call attention from you or I will be forced to punch your dad in the throat…TWICE!
BOY WONDER: (chuckling) I didn’t know this was a competition.
ME: It’s always a competition with that man! You know how he is. He is driving me crazy! And… I bet him that you would call ME more than HIM.
BOY WONDER: Well, why did you do that?
ME: Because it was a no-brainer, I am your mom and you HAVE to miss me more than him.
BOY WONDER: Ok, I’ll try to do better with the phone calls.
My phone rings a few minutes later & it’s our Sweet Girl.
ME: You called me! I’m so excited! I just knew you would miss me. And I knew you would need to hear my voice. Are you ok?
SWEET GIRL: Mama, I’m fine. Daddy told me to make sure I call you.
This cowboy of mine…always looking out for my heart and making sure it gets plenty of water.
…and yes, I’m bragging.
’til next Sunday y’all- Tammy
