Every so often when I meet someone new and they find out we own and work on a dairy farm I get a surprised look. Then they proceed to ask questions from their perspective of what a farm family should look like.
While there are many similarities there are differences and some of both may surprise you.
Farm moms usually have their hands in many places and wear multiple hats at one time, but the Mom hat usually trumps all. We can be in the field right up until kick off but we will be in the stands supporting our kid in whatever sport they are involved. We may not look the appropriate, be color coordinated in our apparel or smell the best but we are there.
Like other moms we do our best to feed our kids nutritious meals. Many families gather around the dinner table or at least have supper at a regular time each evening. On the farm we moms may have to get creative in how we serve supper. We pack everything in coolers or crockpots and head to the barn and set up in the back room. Or, we load everything in the back of the pick-up and head to the fields. We can put out a pretty nice spread on the tailgate ( a whole new meaning to tailgating). We learn really quick to park so the tailgate is away from the dust that is being kicked up.
Farm moms want their kids to fit in at school with the latest and greatest fashion wear. For most of us that is an area we fall short. It seems solid work boots, warm coats and durable jeans for helping on the farm come before an overprices pair of tennis shoes.
Sometimes it’s more important to bring in the last load of the year than being to school on time.
We want our kids to excel in their academics. While other families have their kids do homework around the table or secluded in their rooms, farm kids are drilled for spelling and math while bouncing around in a tractor cab. Reading assignments are done sitting on the floor propped up with pillows in the combine. Other homework is finished in the back of the pick-up while waiting for a load of feed to fill. We try really hard to clean the feed and poop smudges off the paper.
Farm moms don’t put up with too many excuses. If you are sick for school – you have to be throwing up or have a fever above 100 – which both will be observed directly in front of us or it doesn’t count.
Farm kids spend more time doing chores than they do in front of the TV or over an electronic device.
Raising critters and being involved from birth to death creates kids with compassion. They learn that sometimes the hardest thing to do is the most loving thing. Watching an animal pass after doing everything possible or having to put an animal down to relieve suffering creates compassion at an early age.
Farm kids rarely get passes. I’m tired, my head hurts, I want to go with my friends, I . . . do not change the fact that the job will be finished. That means following through, no short cuts and totally accomplished the task at hand.
When opportunity presents itself . . .
Farm kids love to have fun. They like to jump in the pick-up and head to the movies, games, parties just like every other kid. Frequently, they run late because they are finishing chores or they have to leave early knowing the responsibilities they have waiting for them in the morning.
Farm kids make bad choices just like every other kid. They choose friends unwisely, activities that aren’t the best, etc. Farm moms sometimes just don’t know what to do to get their kids back on track.
Faith is important to many farm moms. Farming runs on faith. Farm kids daily see the miracles when we farm moms bring them to attention.
Being a mom to kids of any genre is a hard yet fulfilling task. We all want the best for our kids. Moms would love to wrap their kids in bubble wrap and let them loose in a perfect world where they would never fail.
That is fantasy land and following that agenda will do nothing but create failure.
Daily learning sessions.
Because there is so much at stake on a daily basis on the farm, farm kids have to grow up fast, responsible and reliable. That is not to say other kids don’t, I’m just speaking from the farm front location.
Hats off to moms everywhere – it isn’t an easy job, yet it is one of the worthiest callings.
