3X National Finals Rodeo qualifier Jessica Routier is a full-time barrel racer and mother of five. In honor of Mother’s Day, we caught up with Jessica to talk about what it’s like to be on the rodeo road with the kids, what her Mother’s Days typically look like, and more.
What do you find most rewarding about being a mom?
There are so many things... one of my favorite things about the little girls is that no matter what - they are always so happy and excited to see you. When we are at a rodeo or a barrel race I could have the worst run of my life and they would still come running back to the trailer full of hugs and telling me how awesome I did. :) Now that our older two kids are competing on their own, it is really fun to watch them ride and compete on horses that we have raised.
How would you describe your parenting style while on the road or at home while your spouse is on the road and you’re doing it alone?
My parenting style is pretty go with the flow... I used to hate having to make extra stops. I’d only stop when I needed fuel and if it was convenient to grab some food out of the trailer or from the gas station when we needed fuel, that was the time to do it. The past few years we’ve had 3 in car seats that either needed diaper changes every so many hours, or potty breaks every so many minutes and it takes us way longer to get anywhere but I have had to learn to just allow myself way more time to get somewhere and try not to stress over it. Also, with rodeo performances that go late and sometimes slacks that start early, and the possibility of having to drive all hours of the day and night, it is impossible to keep your kids on a ‘schedule’ like some parenting techniques suggest you should do. Thankfully mine love to travel and have been pretty adaptable.
What does a typical mother’s day with your clan look like?
We don’t really have a ‘typical’ for any occasion! Some years, we try to get together and have brunch with as many mothers and grandmothers from our extended family as we can. Some years we are branding on Mother’s Day and some years we are at a rodeo or barrel race.
