A Farmer’s Life for Us – By Kylie

First our little family… We welcomed our gorgeous son, Jack to the world in October 2017 and our beautiful daughter, Lily in August 2020. A perfect pigeon pair that we feel more blessed to have in our lives every day.

Then a little background… My husband and I both grew up on farms. We had the best childhoods a kid could ask for and cherish those memories. Like any parent, we wanted to give our children a childhood they would love and be proud of. For us that was on a farm. After 10 years of being together we are finally living that dream.

Now a day in our Jack’s farmers life… without fail this little boy wakes up with a smile every morning and an energy that is contagious to start the day. The first person he looks for is his Dad to make sure he hasn’t been left behind for their early morning check on the farm. By 6.30 they are on their way to see the munda (field), check the pack shed and of course the customary ride on his favourite blue tractor. He is greeted affectionately by all the workers with “mangwanani” or “Uri Bo”. They take great delight in the fact that he talks to them in their dialect… Shona. Truth be told he knows more Shona than both his Dad and I put together!

When they get back from ‘basa’ (work) Jack will find is friend Godknows and his Gogo and spend the rest of the morning playing endlessly in the garden. From chasing each other in the sprinkler, imaginary games, dancing and helping in the veg garden by the time lunch arrives everyone needs a rest. The afternoon normally yields another trip with Dad to the farm and the three dogs jump in the back of the truck for a ride to. There he helps drive the tractor, plays in very red daga (mud) and brings back some broccoli which I am told he picked and chose himself for dinner. Where do I, the mum, fit into all this? Well the snack provider of course, the soothing hug that wipes way all hurts and the sensible voice making sure this wild little boy survives the day.

 As 5pm nears I hear him chatting away to Gogo in Shona only catching snippets of the animated conversation about their day. When bath time comes around at the end of a long hot day and it’s time to scrub is mud stained feet, I remember how lucky we are to be giving this childhood to Jack. In my mind if you have dirty feet, mud splattered clothes and a tired grin on your face it is a day well spent.

Yes, Jack’s childhood will look different to ours but in so many ways it will be just as unforgettable. Isn’t that what we all strive for to give our children? No matter what it may look like if it’s a happy, peaceful and a fun filled one it makes all the hard work worth it.