It doesn’t matter where you go, there are certain realities that all farm wives face on a seasonal basis. Some of them are easier to deal with than others. Some of them may not be as big of a deal to some. The fact is many of these things are realities for farm wives across the country.
There will be times you just have to say NO.
Weddings, conferences, social events. There’s certain times of the year you simply can’t go places. It’s hard having to say no to your friends and sometimes your family. Sometimes I envy those who live much more freely at times of the year than us. But it’s the reality of this life.
Coming out to the field is never just coming out to the field.
Usually when there’s an extra body in the field, it will be utilized. Whether it be moving vehicles or being the go-fer. There’s always a need for an extra helping hand when you come to the field.
You’ll start out harvest season creative in the kitchen and eventually it will become sandwiches.
It doesn’t matter how much you plan, eventually harvest becomes longer and longer it seems and sandwiches just become easier and easier to make. The good news is the promise of winter and home cooked meals once again.
The Weather Channel will become your favorite app.
Is it going to rain? How much did it rain? Is it going to freeze? The questions and concerns about the weather are never ending.
Your vehicle will never be clean.
Between trips down gravels roads, to and from fields, and hauling anything from food to parts or clothes, there’s a good chance your vehicle spends the majority of the year a mess.
It will be frustrating. You aren’t alone.
It doesn’t matter if you are a new farm wife or a farm wife of 50 years, the ebbs and flows of relationships and farm life happen to us all. It helps to know at any given time, someone out there has been in our shoes. You are never alone in your struggles.
Whether in the field or in the house, your role is important.
It seems there’s this constant fight for power, the women who embrace the term farm wife versus the women who embrace the term farmer. Whatever you call yourself and where ever you spend most of your time, embrace it. And know that your role plays a vital part in this life we live. Whether you are making meals or running a combine, you are an important part of the farming operation.
If you learn to see the blessings in your life, you will learn you can’t imagine any other life.
It’s human nature for us to focus on the negative. Life is so much sweeter when you choose to focus on the good things. Seeing your farm life through a new lens will help reveal all sorts of blessings you never knew you had.
These are just a few of the realities I have learned since I have been a farm wife. But even with the struggles, the blessings, the joys, and the sorrows of farming, I look forward to our future together. The many years of crops we will grow, raising the next generation of farmers, and growing old with that farmer of mine. It’s a life that isn’t meant for everyone, but I delight in the farm life we live and sharing the many life lessons I’ve found through living it.
As a fellow farm wife, I agree with all this sooo much! And there is always the winters to look forward, too! I have no idea how dairy farmers survive though!
As a retired farm wife, I couldn’t agree more! Nicely thought out!
So true about the meal delivery…..what should take 30 minutes ends up taking 2 hours and you still have to clean up the kitchen when you get home! There is a certainty in the chaos that feels right with God! I love the smell of corn dust and diesel in my hubby’s sweatshirt!
I enjoy your articles very much. My husband and I have been together 3 years, and he’s a farmer. I love my farmer, so I can relate to your articles about being a new farm wife. Reasons to date a farmer, etc.
The pictures of the sunflowers are beautiful. I have enjoyed all of your posts.
I love this post and I love you …. bunches! I’m not a farmer’s wife, obviously, but I was born and raised on a farm and I know what it takes from EVERYONE to get the job done. I’ve driven my share of trucks and equipment from one field to another *HOWEVER* this country girl does not drive a standard. I know, I know. Shame. Shame. I’m also the WORLD’S WORST tobacco planter. Yeah, I was “hired and fired” within 30 minutes of sitting on the planter. Yeah, that’s not going on my resume. It was awful. I am terrible. LOL
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I love you my friend!! Thank you for the kind words! You always have this knack to melt my heart and make me laugh at the same time! 😉
Love this post, very well written! I keep plowing through cooking suppers as they get sub sandwiches every lunch so sandwiches don’t fly for supper on our farm 😉 With kids I don’t have “jobs” any more other than the odd parts run or helping move people to a new field though. Although I imagine as the kids get older I will get put to work more often!
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Thank you my friend! My MIL works during the day so they are usually on their own when it comes to lunches… But most of the time, she leaves food for them to heat up and eat 😉
Great post! My advice is to always eat together, no matter what time of year, at least once a day. Maybe what works is breakfast standing over the kitchen counter, or bringing supper out to the combine, or sitting on the couch with your husband after the kids are in bed. Whatever it is, just make it a daily goal.
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I think that is a great family goal to strive for. We always ate at the table and never had the TV on because my parents thought it was so important to have that time together.
Nicely written. the little things in every farmwife’s life. how about doing one for the farmer himself? 🙂
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Thanks! I would love to feature that farmer of mine on here. He’s not much for words though 😉 And finding the time to pick his brain, AYE!
Hi I am a dairy farmer from Australia. All the things you said are so true and reminds me of the psychological yearly cycle we all go through. The only down point in dairy is that there is no down time and winter is one of the busiest times on dry land dairy in aus. I’m afraid for my family it’s slow cooker dinners all winter and salads all summer and mostly sandwiches and rolls all year.! But it is important to find that time together as a couple…. You can’t do it without each other. And I find most non farm people really don’t understand the complexities of the business and the need for us to commit as a family to the long hours and huge ball of responsibility. It’s a means to an end and I hope it will be a great end where we can spend as much time together as we like and travel and dine and relax and have fun.