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”
Such truth. Honesty in the face of tough questions because the kids deserve it.
And I agree with your approach to writing. If I became hung up on spelling and grammer, I would not write. My spelling is so bad that in the 7th grade when we had to write a story in class as compared to outside of class as homework, the teacher accused me of cheating, of my parents writing my out of class stories because my in class story spelling was so awful. What I learned from this was to dummy down all my writing using only words I could spell. I went like that for years until a creative writing class my senior year where my teacher wanted concepts and beauty and the spelling came second. I continue to struggle with spelling but now I don’t let it hold me back.
Oh and I adore you for tucking in Sheila – pulling the straw sheet up, around, and over her.
how terrible to have to dumb down your words, spelling is all about sounding out, such a shame no-one taught you properly instead of criticising you, they have no idea of the damage they do some of those teachers. We have spell checkers now, no need to worry about spelling anymore!! c
I absolutely love that you lie Sheila down and tuck he in, then the kitties snuggle up. Oh, what a sight that must be.
It sounds like your young visitors had a great time and learned many things. It was a good day for them and the farm!
Your honesty is refreshing.
Once my children were adults, we were going through some of their school work I had saved and they were still angry that a teacher had marked up their wonderful stories with spelling corrections in red pen!
I love the drawings of the sheep in their little blue and red jackets!
A wonderful homeschooling day. So much is learned much more than just book work – that is just the icing on the cake.
Love Leanne
Loving your post – great captures:) Happy Thursday on the Farmy!
I love the kids’ take on things!
Loved today’s post. The photos were terrific as always. Thank you for sharing the story behind the naming convention you use.
Thanks for the lovely blog entry, c!
“… 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 …” – Just like Klaus writing his WriMo novel. Only that the corrections follow months later. Maybe in March.
Simply lovely – kids drawings, photos and your words of wisdom all.
I think you are a ‘real farm.’ The kind of farm my great-grandparents had. Not to be confused with big, horrible, uncaring factory-farms.
A truly wonderful post! Thank you for every single word.
Those stories and drawings are just wonderful, and so is the way you tell the truth. Living on the land is about confronting many realities of life and death. When I first lived at the bach I had to learn to trap and kill possums (and then to skin them and later to make possom stew). No room for squeamishness. Your blog is such a delightful mix of humour, fun, and reality. Thank you.
PS come over to http://www.seasonalinspiration.blogspot.com if you’d like a little dip into our glorious Kiwi summer.
PPS I love the way the animals are cosying up at night.
Cinders….I’m so glad these children have crossed paths with you…you are giving them beautiful, compassionate, life lessons! More important here than the truth about the lambies is that they see not only why they are being raised but HOW they are being raised…with gentle kindness and compassion. Oh and the vision of you tucking Shelia in at night with her straw blankie?? Now if that isn’t gentle kindness and compassion, I don’t know what is! You and I are kindred spirits! Thank-you so much for what you are doing….for the children and your farmy lovelies!!
PS. if that was my child in that school in Italy, I would pull her out so fast it’d make their heads spin off!!
These lovely kids come from the farming community: daresay they knew the truth anyway – just wanted it confirmed! Love your sensitivity in not naming animals you know will one day have to go in the pot. Meanwhile they will enjoy every day on the farmy 🙂 ! And yes, had to smile at the pussycats knowing where the warmth for the night lay!!
The kids have recently relocated here from Chicago so the farming world is still brand new. It makes their joy of the open spaces and different animals all the more exciting. But their parents are honest souls and I am sure they have already informed the kids about where food comes from.. c
In that case they are so very so lucky to have found a fairy godmother in Miss C 🙂 !
bless, hope the summer is treating you well over there?.. c
Ha!Ha!Ha! Just expecting another ‘Oswald’ like storm to cross the Coast some 500 km N!!! Flood warnings out everywhere! You want a spring, we want ‘kinder’ weather!!