Survival Tips: planting edition

Does planting season change anyone else’s family dynamic? It is such an exciting time, but it is also difficult on our kids. A whole winter of Dad being home for suppers turns into meals on wheels or no sight of Dad except for the early mornings. We start to hold onto those short breakfasts together and look for extra snuggles where we can get them.
​
Our four year old daughter seems to have the hardest time transitioning, we ran into the same issue during harvest last fall. More issues at daycare with not using words to express our frustrations. This stresses me out but I also know that it is a time for me to slow down and spend extra time with the kids. I can let the dishes sit in the sink until they are in bed and if they ask for just one more book at bedtime I’ll do it.

Here are my tips and reminders to myself for surviving the widow season of planting:

1. Be open to eating supper in the field. This is the perfect time for you kids to see what the farmer in your family is so busy doing. It may be hard for little ones to understand as it appears we are covering ground with no immediate result, but what better way to get some mud on our boots and foster the love for the land.
2. Meal plan – This is huge for me as an off the farm working mom, but it also gives us more time together. I am not worrying at 6:00 what I am going to put on the table or the fact that the kids might not get fed until 7:00. No doubt it takes some extra organization and about an hour on the weekend, but one less headache for the week is a WIN!
3. Use technology – we all have smartphones; don’t be afraid to chat with the farmer in your family via FaceTime or Skype before bed if you aren’t able to get out to the field. I have found it is a nice little reassurance to the kiddos knowing that their dad loves them and has the time to talk for just a few minutes.
4. Be patient – my word of the year is patience so what better way to practice it than now! Stepping back and asking God for direction in tough times has helped me raise my voice less and really evaluate the current situation before speaking and/or responding.  
5. EMBRACE IT – as an ag producer we have the unique opportunity to provide a safe food supply for the world. How many others get this opportunity? In the United States about 2% of the United States population is still involved in production agriculture. We have a very unique and important lifestyle even if we are spouseless for a few months. I find myself sometimes resenting Mr. Farmer when I am the one having to parent alone, but we made this commitment together and we made the choice to raise our family as a farming family.

 
The list could go on and I would love to hear your survival tips. Also a special shout-out to all parents who find themselves a one person parenting show as the other spouse is busy providing for their families.  Farming isn’t the only sector that has widow seasons, so embrace it and provide a helping hand or a listening ear for others who face some of the same challenges.  

​-Lisa