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Parenting & Farm Kids:  How do you do it??  |
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snowberryfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
132 Posts
Michelle
Central Wa
WA
USA
132 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 23 2011 : 11:18:29 AM
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I am wondering, for those of you out there with little ones, and a farm, how do you make it work? I have 4 little girls, two are babies that we are fostering. We live on a small hobby farm with some goats, rabbits, chickens, and I find it hard to get it all done! How do you find the time to get out there with the animals when you have little ones in the house that need you so much??
Would love to hear how you balance it all!! :)
Michelle
www.snowberryfarm.blogspot.com |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2011 : 11:59:26 AM
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Well Michelle I wish I had an easy answer for you. I guess it is priorities. I raised 4 daughters--all stair steps--they are grown now and doing well. Even as toddlers they were always outside helping with something. Sometimes you have to make work for them to do so you can get your work done. With babies you have to get outside while they are sleeping.
So good luck and don't dwell on what you CAN'T do but what you are doing. Don't make life hard on yourself. My thoughts are with you and the girls. MB
http://www.smallcityscenes.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2011 : 09:08:09 AM
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I have 3 girls really spaced out, 16, 10, & 2. We have a very large garden and a few acres we are converting into a farm. My hubby helps with whatever he can, usually more if it involves power equipment. I have found that a sand pile or sawdust pile will entertain little ones for a while. There is also anything involving water or mud, it's like a magnet to kids. My 10y/o will play in whatever the 2y/o will to keep from havin to weed. I have even tilled up a little patch beside the garden to let the girls dig and bury anything they want.
Sometimes it's neccessary to get a babysitter for really intensive stuff, like canning days or tilling days, but I find a slightly raggedy lookin garden with my girls involved is better than a picture perfect plot without them. I have such fond memories of my grandparents and parents gardens and the time I spent in them with them. I also remember spending long weekends with my aunt at her farm helpin to feed and water the animals. I don't remember much about the cleaning, but I do remember hosing out the bird runs. That was fun!
Look for ways you can make memories for them about animals and teach them about the whys and hows or farming and animals. They'll learn and love it, at least parts of it. I still hate rheas and always will, evil birds!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2011 : 2:17:59 PM
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When my boys were little I had a back pack for them. It was great, they were outside and I could get a few things done. It was an alumin frame one.
Michele |
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rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2011 : 12:26:02 PM
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Michelle,
I know exactly what you mean. I have a 4 month old right now and he cat naps throught the day and I can't get enough time at once to get anything really accomplished. I don't know how I'm going to get things done once spring gets here and theres a garden and lawn to mow, etc. I've come to the conclusion my house will never be clean all at once ever again. :-)
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
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Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2011 : 5:25:50 PM
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You just have to learn to breathe. When I had four little ones I did not get a lot of big jobs done. I just had to breathe through the need for me to get something accomplished. Now that the children are teens I get a lot more done. they even help with the jobs now. I convinced myself that they are only young once and time will pass and the jobs will eventually get done.
If you get overwhelmed you could hire a mother's helper, get yourself organized and go at the list.
Holly
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Annalisa
Farmgirl at Heart
3 Posts
Annalisa
Fort Collins
Colorado
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2011 : 12:31:04 PM
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I so hear you. I presently have older children to help with the younger (and we do foster care for up to 2 babies at a time as well:) What are the ages of your girls? I agree...BREATHE :) Enjoy the season:) IT's crazy and exhausting and life is constantly going. You probably have parent visits and county meetings in addition to all you do too! Get what done what you can during nap time. If you need to do it mostly by yourself due to the ages of your girls I'd encourage a mandatory rest time :) I still do this with my 10, 8 and 6 year old.
Be encouraged, you're doing a great work!
Having lots of kids doesn't make me any different than mama's with one or two...I just cook in bigger pots. |
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ShilohsHaven2011
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
Rachel
Crossville
TN
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 10:18:31 AM
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| I have an almost 4 yo lil girl and an 11 yo stepson. Me and DD are usually the ones who do the gardening and all. When she was little, I had a forward facing carrier that helped alot with the garden and the animals. I later found a metal frame backpack carrier on ebay dirt cheap! I still carry her in it...every now and then! :) When she was close to a year old, she would sit in the garden and "help" me weed. She had more fun putting soil on the dog that anything else! Being exposed at a young age to the animals, too, will be good for the children, too. DD loves being around our friends horses and our chicks. She loves to help with the feeding of our menagerie, too. She even has her own garden bos that she gets to plant whatever she wants. Last year she planted zinnias, spinach and lettuce. They grew better than my spinach and lettuce! |
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CurlysQuilts
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Sarah
Northeast Kingdom
VT
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 10:37:02 AM
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I agree with all that's been said. Don't get focused on what's not getting done, just be proud of what does get done. I involve my two year old in the cooking as well as doing dishes and hanging laundry (although he just plays around me while I do that). He loves it and it keeps him engaged and not getting into trouble. I have a four month old and she just has to sit in her chair sometimes, and it's okay for her to do that, even if she doesn't want to and cries. You're the one that has to get stuff done and they need to understand that chores need to get done. It's not going to go all day, just for a time. I'm also not sure how gardening is going to go this summer, but I'm still going to try!
Also, look at Flylady's system of housecleaning. The website is a little overwhelming, but the basic idea is to break up your house into manageable chunks that only take you an hour max a day. I find this to be very doable, and when I can keep it on a regular schedule, my kids know that this is mommy's cleaning time and they seem okay with waiting that hour. Or I just put 15 minutes in here and there. You'd be surprised what you can get done in 15 minutes.
Curly's Quilts
www.curlysquilts.etsy.com
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8
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Parenting & Farm Kids: How do you do it?? |
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How do you do it??
