photo #5107368

PIcked this doozy up on FB and thought it was worth sharing “I always see your kids working so hard, how do you do it? I can’t get mine to do anything.” I’ve heard it a million times. My kids weren’t given a choice. This is how they grew up. As soon as they were old enough to work, they were given responsibilities. No one had time to stand over them and make sure it was done right. They learned to try to solve a problem before asking for help because help might not come. We never sheltered them. They have witnessed new life in calves and crops, they have held a beloved cows head in their arms as she took her last breath and watch hundreds of acres of corn whither and die. They have shared our pride and heard too many conversations about money. It’s never been a matter of “getting” them to do something, they just do it. And on warm summer nights, I like to think that they are proud of their sore hands as they walk away from a full mow. In the spring, I hope they look at the pile of rocks and understand how important even the most menial jobs are, In the fall, when they stand on the full feed bunks, I know they realize what all the work was for. And in the winter, when they are shucking off wet gloves and heavy bibs, my wish is that they are thankful for growing up on a farm, as thankful as I am for raising them this way. ❤️🐄🇺🇸