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”
When we moved to the farm my kids were not in school yet… and farm life being what it is they soon learnt how they were made and how they developed and then how they were born… all the way through to the table… did them no harm and trying to keep them hidden from the realities of life would have been impossible…
Beautiful post, Celi, from the drawings to the words to Sheila and the cats.
Whew, at least that convo is out of the way. Gosh I hated those kinds of communications with my children, but, as a single mother raising the three of them, if not me then who? That way they always trusted me and saw the necessary truth to everything…even if not a nice, sugar-coated, Disney truth. This last Sept when two of my children’s father died suddenly, it was the most horrible shocking thing they lived thru, but understanding his illness and understanding that he would not have had a “normal” life span made them be able to rally and do the necessary things of funeral and closing down his life. A thing which would have been so much more devastating if the truth had been kept from them. And it all starts with hard little truths. 🙂
Wonderful that the children are told the truth. If more children were made aware of the truths within farming, then maybe adults would be more aware of the origins of what they are BUYING and stay away from factory farmed products.
Christine
The lambies’ ears make me smile!
It is a hard truth to learn as a kid. But when you are an adult, you have already learned the hard lessons of life and death. And the importance of treating all things with dignity and respect, including the creatures you are raising to eat.
the more I read about you and your life , the more I admire you….Such sweet and loving actions to keep Sheila warm whilst she is without Charlotte…you really are a loving caring person. God will bless you for all that you do and have done
this is the sweetest story about the farm cats keeping shiela warm. you really need to write a children’s book!
Heehee – I love cats, but I think the truth of the matter here is that they are using her as a hot water bottle!
I think it sane and healthy to tech children where food comes from. Far to many people think that chicken comes from a supermarket in a styrofoam and cling film wrapper.
I’d love to see the cats going to sleep with Sheila 😉
I shall continue to sneak up on them hopefully the light will get better, sunny days are so few and far between.. c
I love those stories and pictures! What a great arrangement for everyone involved. And I think that you are so right- a child deserves the respect of a truthful answer to even the more difficult questions.
Those lambs are adorable, as are the children’s stories. Being honest with children is hard, but so necessary. They’re lucky to have this learning experience with you! My one and only animal, Oliver the Siamese, is sitting beside me, joining in this morning’s read. I believe he’s jealous of those cats who get to snuggle with Sheila.
Every cat deserves a pig like Sheila!! c
I was thinking of you and your Kiwi builder the other day as I was going through Gatwick airport and spotted a guy wearing a jacket with the immortal words “Kiwi building company” on the back …
Loving the drawings so pleased we get to see them
I am so glad you gave the kids the honest answer, it is the best way. Love your pig and baby lambs!
That was beautiful. Everything. The drawings, the children’s words, the difficult answer. Perfect, as it should be.
Couldn’t say it better than this. Just perfect.
Enjoy your days while you can….a very nasty, horrible storm is here and heading toward you sometime soon. Bitter cold wind that takes off your face, freezes your nose shut (I thought we had passed that time up…it isn’t December or January any more) and takes your breath away if you turn face into it.
Hauling water was miserable this morning. But the hen house was warm and nice.
The rancher is seeing more and more baby calves…of course, why not in this nasty weather, make a trip out of the warm Momma into ……………………….COLD!
Linda
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Oh god, i had better get out there and bring the stragglers in.. they are saying snow tonight but john does not think it will get this far up.. Bugger, well I have my hand warmers.. I hope it will not last too long.. c
Out of the mouths of babes – and excellent gentle steering from a wise Lady. Sheila, will drop those Lambies like hot potatoes once she meets her nieces and newphews 🙂 Laura