What the young people saw yesterday… 
“Often. A little bit often”The stories are just as important as the spelling. For the latter; after the children have written their farmy stories (they have a special book) we collect the spelling words, correct them and add them to our collected words list (individual home made dictionaries). 
When creating a written image I think it is more important that a child embraces the flow of language first, and writes without impediment, then deals with spelling and grammar next but in the same lesson. I have a horror of bad spelling so there are lots of exciting spelling lists. 
I have always thought that a child who has taken the time to formulate a serious question deserves an honest thoughtful answer. Whereas grown-ups will acknowledge and sometimes accept a lie, as a lie to save face or soften news, a child will not understand or forgive a lie. A child needs to know that they can trust adults words. My Mum used to say that if they are ready to ask that particular question then they are ready for the honest answer.
You and I know people who lie to cover something up. Barefaced. No shame. Our respect for them is immediately diminished, whether we challenge the lies or not. We cannot trust their words. They become the boy who cried wolf, forever. And if we have been continually lied to as children then our bullshit radar will not be developed enough to save us from those liars when we are adults.
So when I was asked whether the lambs were being raised for the table or not, I gave her the difficult answer. The farm is for raising food. Though it is fun, raising healthy food and looking after the earth we sit on is our primary objective. 
But I then went on to explain that we don’t eat any animal that we have given a real name. That is why all the lambs for the freezer are grouped as Murphies and all the steers are called Bobbies. Every year. But we will not be eating the Mama or Daisy. In this we deviate from a real farm. But the lines are clear and I hope sustainable.
Sheila was out with me yesterday because it was such a lovely day. But when I opened up Mama’s draft-free pen so I could clean up in there letting the lambs out into the corridor, Sheila was asked to stay in her corner. You should have seen her face. 
Why not miss c. Why can’t I have a lambie. I was a good quiet girl when they were being bornded. I lay right next to Mama through the wall, and kept it warm and thought nice thoughts for her. Can I have one to play with when they are biggerer then? Can I?
Yes. When they are bigger Sheila, you can help babysit when they are bigger. Now go and sleep with your cats, they are waiting.
I have trained Sheila (in Charlottes absence) to lie in her bed and I cover her up with straw last thing at night. Once she has chosen her spot and laid down for me she does not move a muscle as she is covered. I have noticed, that when I am tucking her in, the gate above her collects cats, they arrive silently and sit poised above the straw. As I leave the pen and turn out her lights I see these little cat shadows dropping gently and quietly, one by one, to snuggle in with the pig.
The Daily View. One side remains the same with its dreary winter sameness, but the other side …
… changes on a daily basis.
Good morning. You all have a lovely day.
celi
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
67 responses to “The difficult answer”
Oh the lambies are all so cute and the stories are adorable and yes—-the truth can be told in tender terms and I am sure that is exactly how you shared it with the sweet children! It showed in their stories!!! Poor poor Sheila is missing sweet Charlotte but she will be back again!!!! Loved the pictures today as always.
C –
Such Lovely lambs! Makes me homesick for the days on the farm. Thank you for being honest with the children. It is SO important. Tucking Sheila in and describing her cat friends who sleep with her brought tears to my eyes. How is Charlotte doing — have we heard from her or the farmer?
You are so right, and so brave, in giving the difficult answer.
This is why I grow fruit and veggies and rarely eat meat… that priviledge is for those brave enough to engage with the process. I am not that brave.
Wish there was a shot of the cats sleeping with Sheila – that must be something!
Kids need honest answers to questions they’re old enough to ask, that’s the truth. Some people have trouble keeping those answers age-appropriate, but the story in that farm journal shows just the right amount of information…you were right when you said that we have very similar styles with children …
Have a good day!
The reality of a real farm. I recall the first time I had chicken from a farm in Hungary, my brother and I played with them (city slickers) and at dinner they served chicken. I almost threw up. I couldn’t finish it. It’s such a shame that we North Americans have so little connection to our food; it’s from the supermarket, neatly packaged in plastic and styrofoam. I think that needs to change. I’m glad you told the children the truth, they really do deserve it.
You have some clever children there, who are absorbing the inspiring philosophy of Miss Celie in the least painful way – by experience.
I love the thought of the cats snuggling up to the pig. Any news of Charlotte?
Have a great day.
PS Jock has started the peacock embroidery but is cussing at the problems of using a brilliant thread that shreds if you look at it, so don’t hold your breath.
OK I will let my breath out now! c
The farm journal stories are delightful. I can only imagine how exciting it is to meet the lambs in person. Good idea to tell the kids the truth, difficult as it might be. I will admit though, I never eat lamb because they are way too cute to eat. I’d make a miserable farmer!
Your post reminds me of a funny that I submitted to Christian Reader magazine back in the 90s. They actually published it (after slightly altering and massively shortening it). But this is a true story that happened to my husband (the “sheep farmer”) at a business lunch:
Some sheep farmers were visited by friends from the city
The city friend asked, “How can you bear to slaughter those cute little
lambs?”
The farmer explained, “We try not to get emotionally attached
to the ones we plan to eat, so we don’t name them.”
Wondering how the children could stand to eat something they had
raised, the friend probed, “Well what about your kids?”
To that the farmer quickly replied, “Oh, we named them!”
(Julie Helms, Goshen, Indiana. Christian Reader, “Lite Fare.”)
That was such a funny story.. I laughed out loud at it. Your farmer husband has a quick wit! c
I love their pictures and stories. It seems like no time since my girls were that age. Children deserve our honesty. Even in the tuff stuff. Has your weather improved?
Thank you so much for this post. You are so wise and so right. About honesty. All of it. The children’s writings are heart-rending, sweet. I love them. I have a beautifully poetic child who is being beaten up in school (she goes to a rigorous Italian school here in Italy) about the perfection of her spelling and her grammar and her verb tenses. She is afraid to open her mouth or let her pen fly. It makes me sad. Your approach to teaching is so loving and right.
I hope that on the weekends you and your daughter get to play the game “Lets write and see what happens next” give her permission to play with her words, and go back for the spelling and grammar later.. she has a lovely Mum, thank goodness, hopefully she will encounter one of those lovely teachers that love to see children blossom.. teaching is all about enabling a child. Teaching them how to learn, how to seek learning. I do miss teaching.. have a lovely day charlotte.. c
I agree with you. It seems, as I talk to people at festivals…, the stories where the children were “lied” to haunts them as adults. Sometimes as very old adults. Stays with them forever.
Writers in training, these children are, taught by a woman whose heart is filled with love and honesty.
Lucky children to be treated with such respect and honesty. It is so refreshing in a world where there is such a disconnect in where food comes from. Anyone who eats meat must understand the relationship between us and the animals who feed us. The Native Americans thanked the spirit of the animal in acknowledgment of this connection. The description of Sheila’s bedtime is so moving!
Such words of wisdom you spoke today about telling the truth! How blessed they are to have such an incredible teacher and friend. 🙂
I love the whole idea of truth and respect and learning. You do it so well! Lucky lucky children!