Show season

The last day of school was Thursday the 27th, which means this weekend sees us start to spend more time working with the show animals. We let the self feeders in the show pig pens run empty so we can start hand feeding them. Pigs are pretty smart when it comes to eating, they eat till they are full and then walk away. A habit I wish I could do more often. Some will eat more than others, we have nibblers, and we have inhalers. It is funny to watch the different ways in which they eat.
This time of year we switch to hand feeding which allows us to tailor a feeding program to each pig according to their needs. Gilts (female pigs before they have had a litter) get all they want and then some, we will work at feeding them more each time to get them big. Barrows (castrated males) will be fed according to their weight and rate of gain keeping them on track to be the right weight for their frame at county fair. We have one that is smaller than I'd like and another that is bigger than I'd like, each will get their own feeding program. We also have started washing them a couple times a week so that they look their best.
We probably spend about 4 hours a day just on the show pigs, doesn't count chickens or feeder calves. The work isn't necessarily the hardest, but it does take effort.
There are those that show livestock at county fair and complain when they don't do well, those are also the same people that put their pigs in a pen and do nothing with them all summer.
I have told my kids over and over, we can't out spend them all, but we can out work most of them. It is all about choices, and what you want out of what you are doing.
It isn't an quick fix, it takes time and effort. Much like anything worthwhile in life. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

Present, not perfect

I had a very good friend once share with me recently that she realized she didn't have to be the perfect mom, just a present one. What a fantastic way to think about being a parent. How often do we get hung up on being the perfect parent. We as parents too often don't cut ourselves enough slack in raising kids. It isn't like they come with instructions. We don't spend years studying the art of raising children. It is trial and error. In my case, more errors than I'd like. But if in the process I'm willing to be there for my kids, to admit I messed up, and I still raise productive, good, God fearing adults, than I have done alright.
I will never be perfect, but I will always be present.

What will they remember

I recently read a post from a pirate I know where he shared about this age of instant. Text messages, emails, internet, ipad, everything at your fingertips and in an instant. Got me to thinking that none of these things will last. His thoughts were that this generation is losing the ability to communicate, and he is right.
They are losing something else as well, written word that lasts.
Years ago my grandfather went and served his country. While away he and my grandmother corresponded through the mail. Those love letters exist today in the hands of my mother. I have yet to read them, but want to some day. Micheal is reading a book published from Ronald Regans diary while he was president, I will read it when he is done as those thoughts and experiences interest me, much as do the blogs that I check everyday.
In many of the ways that we communicate today, it is fleeting, gone with the push of a delete key or gone forever with a hard drive failure. Pictures are the same way, all too often sitting on a memory card or flash drive waiting to be printed.
Looking back through black and white photos tells a small tale of life how it was, will our kids have that same luxury? Or will it disappear in one small click.

Another first last

Michael is at his senior prom. It is another last that I am experiencing for the first time.
Last marching band season, made state finals as the smallest school in class A.
Last Christmas concert, last pep band game. Last concert band contest. Again making state finals. Only three schools in the state of Indiana sent their orchestra, concert bad and choir to state finals. Only one school sent those groups AND their marching band. I'm so proud of the music department.
Last academic honors banquet, and today the last prom. This summer, he will show livestock for the very last time in 4H. He says he won't miss it, and likely he won't. But I will. It won't be the same without all of us working together during show season, won't be the same without all of us getting animals ready for show during fair.
With 4 younger siblings following Michael, there are many more last's for me. Probably won't be any easier, but hopefully I get better at dealing with those lasts.

In whose hands

Over the last week I have run across several occasions where animals are put into situations beyond their control.
There were the pigs last Saturday that were in an open trailer, no shelter from the wind, rain and cold on their way too and from the fairgrounds. There were the dogs being made to fight on Dr Phil, and today on animal planet dogs that are left to starve in the cold, or left to fend for themselves on the streets.
It is all about the hands their in, dogs, cats, even showpigs in the right hands thrive. Same thing can be said for kids. In my job I see kids everyday and wonder if in different hands, how would they be different?
I'm so very thankful for the hands that I was raised by, and the hands that raised my parents. The legacy that has been past along from my grandparents to my parents and on to me is one I treasure.

Pig taggin

Today was the day to take in 4H barrows. Wasn't great that the weather was cold and rainy. I don't like moving pigs when the weather is like this, gets them stressed, which weakens their immune system. I had mentioned that to Elizabeth, she said "yeah, but at least our trailer is closed in, you know there will be people that will bring them in open trailers." She was right, we pull up in line and there beside us is an open trailer, with half a dozen COLD sad looking pigs. I guess I don't get it, I don't understand why someone can drive a new pickup, but they can't go to Walmart and get a $15 tarp to close that trailer in some?? Elizabeth asked me if we could adopt the pigs, I said I wish we could, felt bad for them.
We can't outspend everyone when it comes to buying showpigs, not with as many as we buy, but we can outwork a lot of them, and in my mind that is the hardest part. It is easy for some to write a check without thinking, then put those pigs in front of a self feeder and not work with them at all. Their missing out when they do that. Pigs are such cool animals, we have a couple that will come to the gate when we get in the barn, and want to be scratched. Nice thing is they are gilts and will be around for a long time.
The little things make a big difference, it's why my kids don't play softball or baseball, they show during the summer. We often get our butts kicked at open shows because our pigs aren't ready, the idea is to have them ready in July, not June. Jackpot pigs are older, making them more competitive. But we go for a couple of reasons, 1. we get everything around for the showbox so getting ready for fair is easier 2. the kids get in show mode 3. pigs get on and off the trailer 4. we get some comments that we might be able to use to improve our projects 5. keeps the kids grounded, they have done well at fair, but they also know what it is like to get the gate 6. most important, time spent with friends and family.
The friends we have made since my kids have been in 4H, have been priceless.

Free lunch

Went to work today with a good attitude even though it is almost the end of the year and kids are WILD. Was met with the question, "Did you tell a kid that had been given an alternate lunch, they should pack their lunch?" I had said no such thing. Evidently a parent had emailed the school, upset that their child had been told they owe lunch money and the "nasty" lunch lady said they should pack their lunch. Wrong again.
It is the one thing I can't stand about my job. Watching kids come in, looking at the hot lunch, and then I get to hand them an alternate lunch, usually not nearly as appealing as the hot lunch. What I'd like to do to parents the ones that are habitually late, is take the family out to eat, say order whatever you want off the menu, and then when the food arrives, hand mom and dad an alternate lunch. I am not the one that put them into that situation, but I get to watch the fallout. It is likely these same parents don't go into McDonalds and ask to be fed free, why is school any different?
Now I know there isn't a lot of respect given to lunch ladies, not sure why really. We call it "white pant syndrome", is it that(I don't wear white pans btw)? Or lack of a college education? It comes from all sides, parents, teachers, tv, world in general. Is there something wrong with feeding kids???
I really like my job. The cooking part isn't my favorite, but when I get to be, (yes, GET TO) out in the dining room I'd like to think that for most kids, I make their day a little better. I know if it weren't for breakfast, and lunch a few of these kids don't eat. I know that a hug or a positive word from me, may be the only ones they get that day. Before I got this job, the first day of school was my least favorite of the whole year, and the last day my favorite. Last day of school is bittersweet for me now, means I get time with MY kids, but also means I will not get to see my school kids, some I may never get to see again. The greatest indicator of how well I do my job, is walking in Walmart, and seeing a kid run towards me arms open wide, jump into my arms and give me a bear hug. I'd take those anyday....

Cream and Crimson

I'm sitting here, listening to the kids argue in the living room. Thinking about the changes that will take place here over the next several months. Mike will leave high school, and start the next phase in his life, more school. This time on his own. Doesn't seem possible that 18 years have gone by so quickly.
He is trading one set of school colors, for another. Same colors, but much larger stage. The excitement I see in him is enviable. The opportunity he has been given is huge. I tell him over and over not to mess it up, he tells me over and over I know mom. But it's my job, and if my saying it over and over will help it sink in, then I'll take the eye rolls and the "I know mom!"
I didn't get the chance he has, and that is ok with me now. If I had, my life would have likely been very different than it is now. I can't imagine not being where I am now, arguing kids and all.
Kids have moved away from the tv, and the arguing to riding bikes together outside. Nope, wouldn't change a thing.