Horses, teenagers and asthma

There comes a time when you realize that you taught your kids well and they actually LISTENED to what you said!

As a Mom with asthma, who has 3 adult children with asthma, our life is always changing.

We all have different asthma triggers, and we try to avoid our triggers as much as we can.

In fact, when Daughter Kitty was young, she loved horses. So, she started riding lessons. But, she kept having a LOT of problems with her allergies while she was riding. Those allergies would trigger an asthma attack.

The arena where she took lessons was a long drive from our house. So, she would take her allergy and asthma medicine, but then still have problems while she was riding. She would change her shirt to try to get most of the dirt and horse dander off before we drove home. But she would still be sneezing, wheezing, and coughing.

So, we ended those lessons.

Now she is older, and two of her high school buddies also love horses and work at a barn. Which is fabulous - except when they get together for a BBQ after work.

During the BBQ, Kitty noticed she was sneezing, wheezing and coughing. She and her friends (who also have asthma) figured out it was the horse dander that was still on her friend's clothing. 

So, the 3 of them figured out a plan. Her friends would go home first, shower and change clothes, and then come over for the next BBQ.

I was so happy, because I knew that she had learned how to take care of herself and her asthma. She's headed to college, and I won't always be around. So my kids have to learn how to take care of their allergies and asthma. 

So, it was a proud mama moment!