Beautiful, Holly, and so much to think about. I hadn’t thought about the enjoyment of completing simple tasks, but it’s so true! In 2020, I was in the middle of a huge move (Korea to somewhere undecided at the time in America as my husband retired from the military--to make a very long story short). Through some crazy circumstances, I ended up staying with a friend for two weeks on her farm. She was putting in her winter garden and putting up fencing, and I spent that time working beside her. It was, by far, the best thing I could have done for my mental health right then because so much was up in the air, and it’s a time I remember as being such a tremendous blessing. I love the last paragraph here too, gratitude for who our children are and hope for who they are becoming. So good!
When my kids were young we had a small vegetable & flower farm and I was the farmer, their dad was a carpenter and the kids basically grew up in a park. They had chores but not farm chores. Friends often picked them up to go to the beach while my crew & I harvested. They came along on deliveries and helped carry the produce into the kitchens of fancy restaurants in Providence & if they didn’t do anything crazy to disrupt the delivery their treat was climbing the tower at tower hill or going to the playground on the way home. Now in their 30’s I should ask them what their experience of farm life was! 👩🌾
Yes. A simple chore that can be completed feels so good when complexities beyond can make us feel we are not ever doing enough. I love your reasoning and approach to chore redefinition for your children. I felt your thrill when your 6 year old offered to help you during his free time. Affirmation feels so good. Wishing you all a holiday season full of love and magic, Holly❤️🌲❤️
Beautifully written. I felt grown up and apart from my peers in a good way hefting hay bales in my teens during haying season. I proudly did my household chores: the family laundry, washing dishes, washing windows--made me feel like I had valuable skills to contribute. Oh yeah, I did sometimes grumble and mope, but overall there was a feeling of pride. Thanks for helping me think through this topic at the same time that your writing helps you to solidify your beliefs. ❤️
I grew up on a small hobby farm with parents who, also, had full time jobs. My siblings and I had chores. I remember having to weed the garden before we were able to go swimming. It seemed to make that swim so much better. I’m very grateful to have grown up knowing where my food came from and how much work it took to provide that life. Thankfully, my parents had a sense of play too. We worked hard, but there was great reward after.
I am trying so hard not to hope for the future person, but boy this is so awesome. At 5 years and almost 4 month, I do see these moments slowly forming. Tonight we had an incredibly silly moment where after rearranging our house again, Frances sat down at the piano and made up a Christmas song. It felt straight out of SNL:) A story about meeting Santa this year and last year and what her friends wanted:) I see her sense of humor and silliness. There are also moments of seriousness that catch me off guard. We are not allowed to use the word easy. Because at school easy is a four letter word. Some people might not find something easy and so we should not say things are easy🤯
A simple yet complicated topic in our over automated modern lives. Holly, your musings give way to my own observations in a small town, my own kids and my own joy in the mundane tasks that give me a brain break from the chatter. Thanks for the inspiration to write down my own thoughts. Always a delight.
And of course, the Amish, which are all through our area of upstate NY take it to a whole other level... I just learned that Amish kids start “working out” (meaning, paid work from outside their household) at around 12 and they are expected to give their parents ALL their earnings until age 20 when they are allowed to get married. Now, if you had 10 kids that could be some serious income...
Beautiful, Holly, and so much to think about. I hadn’t thought about the enjoyment of completing simple tasks, but it’s so true! In 2020, I was in the middle of a huge move (Korea to somewhere undecided at the time in America as my husband retired from the military--to make a very long story short). Through some crazy circumstances, I ended up staying with a friend for two weeks on her farm. She was putting in her winter garden and putting up fencing, and I spent that time working beside her. It was, by far, the best thing I could have done for my mental health right then because so much was up in the air, and it’s a time I remember as being such a tremendous blessing. I love the last paragraph here too, gratitude for who our children are and hope for who they are becoming. So good!
When my kids were young we had a small vegetable & flower farm and I was the farmer, their dad was a carpenter and the kids basically grew up in a park. They had chores but not farm chores. Friends often picked them up to go to the beach while my crew & I harvested. They came along on deliveries and helped carry the produce into the kitchens of fancy restaurants in Providence & if they didn’t do anything crazy to disrupt the delivery their treat was climbing the tower at tower hill or going to the playground on the way home. Now in their 30’s I should ask them what their experience of farm life was! 👩🌾
Yes. A simple chore that can be completed feels so good when complexities beyond can make us feel we are not ever doing enough. I love your reasoning and approach to chore redefinition for your children. I felt your thrill when your 6 year old offered to help you during his free time. Affirmation feels so good. Wishing you all a holiday season full of love and magic, Holly❤️🌲❤️
Beautifully written. I felt grown up and apart from my peers in a good way hefting hay bales in my teens during haying season. I proudly did my household chores: the family laundry, washing dishes, washing windows--made me feel like I had valuable skills to contribute. Oh yeah, I did sometimes grumble and mope, but overall there was a feeling of pride. Thanks for helping me think through this topic at the same time that your writing helps you to solidify your beliefs. ❤️
I grew up on a small hobby farm with parents who, also, had full time jobs. My siblings and I had chores. I remember having to weed the garden before we were able to go swimming. It seemed to make that swim so much better. I’m very grateful to have grown up knowing where my food came from and how much work it took to provide that life. Thankfully, my parents had a sense of play too. We worked hard, but there was great reward after.
Love your line, “I’m trying to magick a mindset.” So true to parenting. And life!
I am trying so hard not to hope for the future person, but boy this is so awesome. At 5 years and almost 4 month, I do see these moments slowly forming. Tonight we had an incredibly silly moment where after rearranging our house again, Frances sat down at the piano and made up a Christmas song. It felt straight out of SNL:) A story about meeting Santa this year and last year and what her friends wanted:) I see her sense of humor and silliness. There are also moments of seriousness that catch me off guard. We are not allowed to use the word easy. Because at school easy is a four letter word. Some people might not find something easy and so we should not say things are easy🤯
A simple yet complicated topic in our over automated modern lives. Holly, your musings give way to my own observations in a small town, my own kids and my own joy in the mundane tasks that give me a brain break from the chatter. Thanks for the inspiration to write down my own thoughts. Always a delight.
Heath! What a hero!
Always more “fun” when there is an element of danger. You feel like it’s an adventure not a chore.
Interesting take and beautiful writing.
And of course, the Amish, which are all through our area of upstate NY take it to a whole other level... I just learned that Amish kids start “working out” (meaning, paid work from outside their household) at around 12 and they are expected to give their parents ALL their earnings until age 20 when they are allowed to get married. Now, if you had 10 kids that could be some serious income...