When envisioning Mother’s Day, images of breakfast in bed, relaxing spa days or simply time to oneself often come to mind. However, when a friend asked me about my Mother’s Day plans, my reply was somewhat unexpected: “Honestly, it’s day-by-day here.”
Farm life, especially around spring field work, is unpredictable and demands constant attention. With the rye field teasingly close to being ready for harvest and rain looming, plans are perpetually in a state of “wait and see.”
Life on the Farm
Outside my Illinois farmhouse windows, the rye field awaits. Its imminent chopping necessitates a team effort, perhaps even falling on Mother’s Day. Farming is an all-hands-on-deck lifestyle, 24/7. It requires sacrifices not only from the farmers but from their families, including the wives holding the fort and the children who contribute their own labor.
Farming families experience a unique kind of limbo. While the cliched spa days and breakfasts might be absent this Mother’s Day, the gift I cherish is far more rewarding. Watching my children work alongside older generations on our family Jersey dairy farm fills my heart. They absorb values of hard work, trust, commitment and sacrifice — tools that will serve them well into adulthood.
Glimmering Moments of Pride
These small, shining moments make my heart swell with pride; like when my oldest son, Tyler, uncomplainingly rose very early before our herd appraisal day, ensuring the cows looked their best. Or when my daughter, Cassie, seamlessly transitioned from college life to tractor work as if no time had passed. Even my youngest, Jacob, beamed as he commandeered his father’s pickup truck, with me riding shotgun, to deliver seed to the fields. There are so many moments on the farm in which I’ve witnessed my kids lending a helping hand.
Trials and Triumphs
Life as a farm mom isn’t filled with picture-perfect memories alone. It requires resilience to handle the myriad tasks of cooking, farm bookkeeping, vaccinating cattle, writing stories for my day job, running errands and more.
Despite the demands, being a farm mom is a deeply fulfilling job. It’s a job that makes my heart burst as I watch my kids learn some of life’s best lessons living and working on our family farm.
I’m OK with not waking up to breakfast in bed, receiving store-bought flowers this Sunday or having a hot-stone massage. Witnessing my children learn vital life lessons of hard work, sacrifice and dedication is the gift I treasure most.
These aren’t lessons confined to a single day but are affirmations of a life richly lived — a gift any mother cherishes year-round, not just on Mother’s Day.
Your Next Read: Embracing Life’s Lessons: A Journey of Growth and Courage
