Now that I've joined the ranks of farm wife and mom, I've been thinking about an article that my father asked me to read while I was dating my row crop farmer. "If you're going to marry a farmer, you'd better read this", he said. Although it was ten years ago, I've never forgotten the message. It was a "cautionary tale" written to farm wives (or future farm wives), published in FarmWeek, which is the Illinois Farm Bureau weekly publication.
The message was this... Your farmer husband's first love was the land and the livestock. While he loves you and is married to you, he's also married to the land. You could think of the land as "the other woman". His commitment and love for the other woman runs deep, and usually she comes first; before wedding anniversaries, family vacations and birthday parties. Does this scenario sound familiar, fellow farm wife friends??
Reading this article as a 20 year old really didn't mean much, but I get it now. I think the author was spot on when he described the "jealousy" and frustration that I would feel when my husband and father of our children just. didn't. come. home. ever. But it's not all doom and gloom! While it's true nothing can prepare you for being a farm wife and mom, it helps to remember that you're playing a vital role in agriculture, whether you are directly involved on the farm or not. Farm men and women across this nation work really hard to produce food for a growing population. They might lie awake at night and worry about production and financial uncertainties. So whether you're driving the combine, vaccinating cattle or preparing field dinners, remember that you're part of something really important.
Spring, 2009. Bringing lunch out to the field.
My friend Keri snapped this and it's one of my all time favorites!
Okay I'll admit it, I haven't been handling this planting season as gracefully as I would like. Ladies, this is hard, and my seasoned farm woman friends tell me that it doesn't get easier. So hang on, we're almost through planting season, 2014! It's funny how often I think of the article that taught me that my husband is married to the land. It really was a good lesson. (Thanks Dad!) I would really like to find an electronic version of that article but I haven't been successful. If you find it, please send it my way! Thanks for reading.
