Hypothetical Kids

When Kris and I were deciding to buy the farm, we didn’t have any kids yet, but we did have a list of reasons why we wanted to raise our hypothetical kids on a farm. We were both raised on dairy farms, and we wanted that same kind of upbringing for our kids. We wanted them to grow up next to their grandparents. We wanted them to gain a good work ethic. We wanted them to be able to work alongside us.
Now, eight years later, all of this has come true. We had twin boys (7) followed by their younger brother (4).
What I didn’t realize in becoming farmers was that our boys would so completely emulate their dad. I know sons want to be like their dads, but I didn’t realize it was to this extreme. Everything Kris does, the boys want to be doing, and it’s been this way since day one.
I remember when Kris would pull into the driveway and my little three-year-old monkeys would scale his truck door and crawl through the open window. Kris was going to the barn? They were all going to the barn!
Our youngest has loved riding with him since he was born. Kris was going in the chopper? He would stay with him for hours if he could.
The older the boys get, the more pull he seems to have on them. They love helping him with calf chores, going with him to sort cattle, and feed. They talk wistfully about when they’ll be old enough to work with him ALL DAY.
When Kris and I talked about the pros and cons of leaving our enjoyable corporate jobs for the farm, this was a factor. Kris said he wanted his kids to know what he did at work – not to be away all the time, with his kids having only some vague idea of what he really did when he was gone.
Well, they certainly know now. They get dirty alongside him, they see him happy on good days, and they see him frustrated when machines break. And best of all? Whenever we want to see him, we know right where he is – within walking distance at the barn!
My boys love all the activities they do with me, too. We run races, go to art museums, and hike trails. At home, they help me with the yard work and make meals. But as a mom, seeing them work with their dad really warms my heart in a different way. I’m trying to raise them to be independent, hard working, and good people. Thankfully, the best example for becoming that guy is right here.

Carla Wardin and her husband Kris are the owners of Evergreen Dairy.  Before returning to the farm, Carla got her MA from Michigan State University in English literature, taught at Bradley University and Northern Illinois University, and worked in marketing for Caterpillar and TechSmith Corporation.  She’s the author of two books. You can follow what goes on at their farm at Truth or Dairy on her blog or facebook!

Carla sheds great light on a topic I think many dairy farmers discuss when they make the decision to take the plunge to continue farming: raising your kids on the dairy farm. It definitely was a part of our discussion when we chose to come back to my family farm! I had the great chance to get to meet Carla while we were on “vacation” this Spring. Her and her family are great and we really enjoyed our visit!! A big thank you to her for sharing this Mama Honesty, be sure to follow along with her!