Farming with littles..

Today, as I tried to get some winter work done, cleaning up the garden area, organizing fencing materials.. with both of the girls in tow, I sat back and realized how complicated it all was. When we moved to the property Penelope was almost 1, so for us, we don’t know any different other then having littles to think about while trying to farm. Looking back now I see the extra challenges it had created but also the amazing experience we have had learning to work with a toddler (and now a toddler AND a baby!).

Our sweet P really had to learn right along with us when we started this journey. Our days quickly became filled with less time away from the farm and more time spent working the land and animals while she entertained herself or tried her best to help. She was right there with us as we would teach ourselves how to deal with all the animals and situations that can arise. All of the firsts we had, she had to.. our first batch of baby chicks, the first time we moved birds on pasture, our first baby pigs, our first egg from our egg layers.. Along with that came a lot of time she had to realize we had to tend to animals and it’s not always the most fun. But we have always tried to teach P that with the work comes the fun, and we encourage her to make fun in the times when we have to focus on energy on a task.

That being said it isn’t always easy, I wish I could say I was perfectly balanced and have a black and white explanation on how to farm with kids but to be honest, my biggest advice is in the gray zone, just be prepared. When Penelope was younger we would make sure to bring lots of toys, things to entertain her and we could set her up with, back then typically in the wagon. Some days when I thought we would be out for hours getting a specific task done I would bring the iPad with a movie for her to relax and zone in while we worked. As she got older I made sure to pack her a little sack of snacks and drinks to munch on so I wouldn’t have to make a million trips back to the house. We’ve always tried to balance out how much we have her work and how often we let her just be little and play while we finish the job. I remember one year when she was 3 or 4 that we put a play kitchen in our garden area, what a genius idea! She would entertain herself for hours making meals for us with mud and sticks, whatever she could find. It was great, I highly recommend!

We do always encourage her to help, we do think its really important that she knows the work we have to do and tries her best to work too. More now then when she was little but even at 2 we asked and expected her to complete certain tasks. Now at almost 6 she knows so well how things function around the farm and what her chores are. But still, even at her age I have to make sure were prepared to work  (and she still has her toddler moments). I make sure to have snacks, encourage her to pack toys, often times she just busies herself talking with us or engaging with the animals, but better safe then sorry (ALWAYS BRING THE SNACKS).

There are days when we make it a priority to be a PLAY DAY. Make plans with friends, go on an adventure (a little more limited these days with covid) but we try to find fun things to do away from the farm. As much as we want the girls to understand farming is part of our life, THEY ARE KIDS. They need their time too. Some of our best adventures have been on days when we get up and work together to get chores done so we can get off the farm for whatever plan we have. It is so rewarding when we are all on the same page to get stuff done to go have a special day of fun. It is so important that we show balance to our girls, find the fun as much as we can.. even if it is as simple as finishing chores on a hot day to head into town for a scoop of icecream.

And here we are now with an almost 6 year old and an 8 month old. All my old tricks out the window as Parker prefers to be right in the mix of whatever we have going on, wagon strollers and toys for entertainment aren’t really her world right now so I find myself doing A LOT of baby wearing. If you have a baby and a farm my HIGHEST recommendation is find a baby carrier YOU LOVE, it is sometimes a lot of trial and error (I’ve been through four) but once you find one you like, soo worth it! Honestly, this is a nice option, but it does limit my abilities… this is when almost 6 year old comes in very handy! She is my extra helper when I’m baby wearing and she loves it.

All kids are so different, my advice, find your niche.. whatever makes it work. And know that some days it is really hard. Kids are the hardest “animal” to maintain on the farm. There are days that I can work out back for 15 minutes before someone is melting down, but that’s okay! My motivation on the days when I feel like “this is impossible”? Showing my girls hard work, showing them that moms can throw on gloves and stack bales of hay or carry bags of feed to a pack of 250lb pigs. It is so important for me to show them that work is important and we may not be able to do it ALL but we sure as hell can try!  

I’m no kid expert and I know especially now with a under 1 year old my world will change so much as she grows. Penelope being at school, our farm schedule getting more busy… it is all a learning process, but I know that we want our girls to love this life, to want to farm forever and carry on the traditions we have started. As always, we just figure it out. And if you are thinking about farming and have littles, YOU CAN.. even on the hard days it is so worth it. I pray when our kids grow up they will look back and remember the fun they had spending their days in the dirt surrounded by animals.

Until next time,

Elizabeth.