Why We Raise So Many Animals, Part 4
It’s probably no surprise to you, but raising livestock is work. We knew that when we started out, and now we really know it. The good thing about this work is that it is a family work. There are chores involved with raising livestock that even small children can do. When my children give Daisy fresh “hand-picked” clover to eat while I’m milking her, they are participating in the production of the actual milk they drink. This is a family work that is very worthwhile for both children and parents. We have not fully utilized this benefit yet (but do I ever have plans!), but it is worth thinking about and deliberately contriving a place where children and parents can work alongside one another and receive such tangible "fruits of your labor". There is a bonding that takes place in a setting like that which you can’t get in any other way, I think.
Here’s another benefit to children who grow up in a family that raises livestock: homeschool science. Whether you homeschool or not, biology takes on a whole new meaning when you are eviscerating home-grown chickens and your children watch your every move, asking “What’s that, Mommy? Oooooo….what’s that?”, every time you pull something out of the bird. You get the lesson and the “experiment” all in one. And dinner too. Haha. Seriously, though, learning about animals in books and learning about them in real life is just not the same. Raising animals is a great learning experience (for all of us).
One last benefit for children in raising livestock is so that they’ll have good stories to tell when they grow up. They can tell their children how they had to get up early in the morning every day to milk the goats (and cow?) and do their chores. Since we are homeschooling, they won’t have the option of telling their kids that they walked 10 miles to school every day uphill, in the snow, and barefoot. But this will be a good substitute. No doubt there will be many more stories my kids will be able to tell to their children someday. There’s a lot of story material around here. Some more violent than others. Like watching the dog chase the ducks around the pond and actually catching one. You know, stuff like that. I can’t wait to hear what they come up with.
No doubt there are more benefits that having animals is blessing my children with. I just can’t think of more right now.
Next time: self-sufficiency.
Here’s another benefit to children who grow up in a family that raises livestock: homeschool science. Whether you homeschool or not, biology takes on a whole new meaning when you are eviscerating home-grown chickens and your children watch your every move, asking “What’s that, Mommy? Oooooo….what’s that?”, every time you pull something out of the bird. You get the lesson and the “experiment” all in one. And dinner too. Haha. Seriously, though, learning about animals in books and learning about them in real life is just not the same. Raising animals is a great learning experience (for all of us).
One last benefit for children in raising livestock is so that they’ll have good stories to tell when they grow up. They can tell their children how they had to get up early in the morning every day to milk the goats (and cow?) and do their chores. Since we are homeschooling, they won’t have the option of telling their kids that they walked 10 miles to school every day uphill, in the snow, and barefoot. But this will be a good substitute. No doubt there will be many more stories my kids will be able to tell to their children someday. There’s a lot of story material around here. Some more violent than others. Like watching the dog chase the ducks around the pond and actually catching one. You know, stuff like that. I can’t wait to hear what they come up with.
No doubt there are more benefits that having animals is blessing my children with. I just can’t think of more right now.
Next time: self-sufficiency.
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