What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest post is by Dana from MidwestBuds.com.
Being a farm wife is no joke.
The website farmersonly.com makes country life look like a fantasy of line-dancing and rides to the pasture with your ankles hanging out the window. Think again. Being a farmer’s wife is SO much deeper than that.
It’s about hard work. It doesn’t matter that you are a woman, or smaller. Your husband might need help lifting cattle panels, sorting calves, or other dirtier, less desirable tasks. You are the go-to person.
It’s about being alone. They might be delivering a haul, or working calves all day and night. You might wonder when harvest will EVER be over because you haven’t seen your husband in weeks. You need to be comfortable with being alone.
It’s about compassion. He’s hungry, he’s tired, and his body aches. He collapses without energy for you or the kids. It happens only because he put his ALL into the long day. You understand and hand him some Motrin. Your compassion becomes a gift.
It’s about hope. Hope for the rain, for the sunshine, for the new crop, and yield. It’s about a new season and the possibilities you hold. Your hope holds the family together and at times is all you have.
It’s about family. Being a new farm wife, I learn from my husband and teach our children what I can. I keep our little boys safe while we watch their dad drive the tractor. We all help, together ~ making memories along the way.
Being a farm wife is mostly about love: for each other and for the lifestyle. But, I sure do love drives to the pasture with my ankles out the window!
