Staying up late, sleeping in and hours of being cooped up inside playing PS4 and XBOX. Farm kids cannot relate to 98% of their classmates’ summer break.
When summer began, my youngest son, Jacob, said this will be the most boring summer ever of his life when I told him no to getting an XBOX.
“Go outside and find something to do,” were the words that came out of my mouth, the same words my own mother told me some thirty-plus years ago.
So outside Jacob went. After morning chores, which included watering calves, feeding his show heifers and taking care of his chickens, Jacob found a fishing pole and went down to the stream. He seemed entertained and came inside for lunch dirty and hungry. That evening he turned on the television tube and when I glanced up, I asked, ‘What on earth are you watching?”
I quickly learned it was his favorite show, “Naked and Afraid.” His older sister was applauded, but we all kinda got sucked into watching it. Before bed that evening, Jacob asked me, ‘Would you rather be naked and afraid in 40 degrees or in 90 degrees?”
I responded with the question; why would I have to be naked at all?
“It’s part of the show, mom!” Jacob exclaimed.
As the sun rose the next day, out the door Jacob went. Down the road he went, past the stream. He built a fort with sticks and mud and later told his father, “This is how I would sleep if I was on Naked and Afraid.”
I smiled; after all, he was being resourceful and at least he was not playing video games.
Summer for farm kids is indeed so much different than their peers, especially when none of your classmates live on the farm. For the majority of the summer, Jacob had a friend come over, who fished, helped bale straw, vaccinate calves, and even showed cows together at a couple of local fairs.
At the county fair, Jacob and Caleb did all that they were expected. It wasn’t even about blue ribbons, but more that they got to feel independent and were responsible for helping care for a string of cattle. The fair also has a birthing center and after the fair was over, I learned Jacob set up a card table there and did card tricks for entertainment. He even put out a tip jar that funded his daily tenderloin lunch. I should have questioned why he never asked either his father or me for money.
Yesterday, was back to school for Jacob. Hello, seventh grade. I know, an early start to school for kids in Silvis, Illinois school district. The teachers told the students to write down some of their favorite summer break memories. Oh goodness, what Jacob would share first? His ‘Naked and Afraid’ bed or his sneaky side table to earn a few dollars at the county fair? Although Jacob confessed and wrote that the best part of his summer break was spending time by his father’s side. His dad taught him how to shift the shiny 4010 John Deere, fished with him and helped him get his Jersey show string ready.
So, yes, there is no need for video games when you live on a farm. The to-do list never gets done and the entertainment is all around us, especially in the summertime. All we have to do is keep our eyes open and our imagination, too.
