This is story all about how my life got twist turned upside down…
My introduction into farming has been more of a crash course. After 13 years in the military, our family decided to go into farming full time. My husband served in USASOC – special operations. If you’ve ever seen a military themed movie, these are the guys who go on super secret missions, jump out of planes, bust down doors, taking down names and the bad guys. You know, the cool job. Well for him… But not so cool for our family. He would travel every month for weeks at a time. On top of that he would deploy every 6 months. Sooo… yeah. It was rough on ya girl.
At this time we had 4 kids and another one one the way… deployment babies are a thing y’all. I never wanted to ask him to let go of his dream job, but after so long, he and I both knew we had to make a change. We started to look into next steps outside of the military. The opportunity to farm opened up and it just made sense, both professionally and for our family!
When I was a kid my nickname was “Mama”. People would often comment on how I would be the one to have a big family and follow in my Mom’s footsteps. I am one of 14. (Yes ,14 children… we drove a church van.) Well, in hindsight, I guess they were on to something. I never knew I would have 5 kids, let alone 1000’s of animals under my care! But here I am, doing the thang.
We have been living at our homestead for less than a year now and time is flying. When I told my parents we were going into farming full time, they were surprised, but also proud to see someone take up farming again. Being a homestead mama takes things up a notch. It’s like motherhood to the 10th degree. My kids are now involved in every aspect of my day: chores, cooking, cleaning, as well as the business of farming.
And this, friends, can be a challenge… A task that will take you 10 minutes can easily take you 30 when little ones are involved. Here are the biggest working-with-kids tips that I’ve learned so far… Delegation is necessary. Don’t try and do everything yourself because you just can’t. Growing up in a big family, I learned a lot about delegation. I essentially worked my way out of many jobs. I am a firm believer that kids are capable of a lot more than we think. The challenge is teaching AND having patience to endure through the learning stages. I’m always on the look-out for ways to keep my kids involved: feeding the pigs, gathering eggs, sweeping the kitchen floor. The key is finding age appropriate chores that they can develop over time. Why? This does two things: 1) it relieves some of the work off me and 2) it gives them a sense of responsibility, ownership in the farm.
Take time to explain the why.
Deuteronomy 11:19 says “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
The unique thing about this passage is that it encourages teaching at all times, always looking for that teachable moment, whether we are relaxing, eating, walking, and on and on. I try to take the time to explain the “why” to my kids throughout the day because, living on a farm, anything can happen. When I take to the time to explain, 70% of the time it yields a better result. This can really help with the big concepts like safety, animal welfare or personal responsibility. Now, I’m not advocating for an explanation session for every task. Cause ain’t nobody got time fo dat. But what I am saying is… take the time to teach as you go about your day. It is valuable for you and a treasure for them.
Please join us by sharing, continuing the conversation below, and connecting with Paige at the following:
Involving Our Children
Even when the task is risky
As homesteaders there are many instances when we are creating things that hold a certain level
of risk, or even where we need to keep our concentration on the task at hand…
“In some Native languages the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us’ … the land knows you, even when you are lost.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass…
Babies, Business, and Bumper Crops: How I am Learning to Homestead with Babies in Tow
Have you ever had one of those days? You know the days when you are cleaning the baby’s diaper, milking the cow, scooping poop in the barn, wiping noses, and cleaning more poop off of kids’ shoes…
Hey there, Homesteading Mama’s!
I’m Rachel from @frontier_homesteading. My husband Ryan, three children and I have been homesteading for about 10 years now, first in Wyoming and now in Alaska.
We currently have milk goats, pack goats, sheep, a pig, a cow, chickens, rabbits, bees and a dog. Seasonally, we also have more pigs, meat chickens and turkeys….
Stained glass windows date back to the 7th century. With the earliest known reference dating
from 675 AD when workmen were imported from France to Britain to Glaze the windows of a
monastery…
Homesteading and growing food is not the easy way out of this life, i would say it is the hard way as there’s nothing convenient about it. It’s a lifestyle, a life change not a trend or hobby. Well, that’s my opinion any way…
Awakino Station is a child’s dream. There is the river to splash in, tussock covered hills to explore, animals to raise and a bustling kitchen with a baking tin full of something yummy to eat…
After a busy daycare week for our toddler, and the hectic joys of infant co-parenting + farming, weekend mornings are eagerly anticipated family time; the weekend promise of adventures great and small is so refreshing…
Living in an urban or suburban setting may seem like the least likely place to start a homestead. When most people (even me) think of the word, term or action it looks like acres of land, a plethora of animals and gardens as far as the eyes can see…
