The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The spring rush is on and I don’t know if we are way behind or too early. One neighbor had 200 acres of corn planted and sprayed by last weekend before the oak leaves were the size of a squirrel’s ear. The other neighbor is combining. Drying fuel was too expensive last year. It is so hard to keep up with the “Jones” around here that sometimes we have to march to our own drum beat. If you are not from the area, that is pretty easy. I’ve always stepped to a different beat. It is much harder for the homegrown boys, but they’re learning.
Mark will finish planting the small oddly shaped fields today. The kids have noticed that this has been a pretty stress free spring with few breakdowns and low anxiety levels. There are two reasons for the relaxed feelings. We haven’t had any rainy days to keep us out of the fields, but that also raises concerns for the first cutting of hay. The hay could sure use a good two inches of rain to wake up and start growing. My garden could use a good dousing too.
The second reason things have gone well this spring is because of the kids. They have stepped up and shown us they can do many of the jobs that need to get done in order to keep the planter rolling. Between chores, milking and field work, everyone has worked together with few complaints in order to help their dad. These events have created many “mother moments”.
I often find myself standing back and memorizing a sight that makes my heart skip a beat. It can be a beautiful sunset, a freshly plowed field surrounded by new spring grass or a moment frozen in time viewing Mark and the kids. I never knew what to call these events until I was talking with my friend Joan.
Jonathon escorted Sarah in the “grand march” and proved that two farm kids can “clean up well”. While the kids were off to dance the night away and plan for the upcoming show season, Joan and I gathered around the kitchen table with a bowl of ice cream to talk.
Joan described mother moments as when you step back and say “it doesn’t get any better than this”. The first time your child “drove” the tractor sitting on dad’s lap. Watching the kids and dad build a family size show box together. Noticing your husband surrounded by your children and everyone is almost standing eye to eye. Or straining to recognize the stranger walking in the barn with your husband and suddenly realize that it is your own son!
Joan and I both pause and treasure these “sights” as a mother moment to enjoy, for we remember it was only yesterday when our special little ones would grab their father’s finger and walk across the yard to pet the newborn calf, toddling on short stubby little legs stuffed like sausages into their snowsuits. My how time has flown by and I don’t feel like I’m that old yet!
Over the years though, a mother moment that stands out is of the bouquets of fresh picked flower the kids would make for me. They would line the window sill above the kitchen sink with sippy cups stuffed with dandelions, purple violets and pussy willows. The first bouquets always seemed to align with Mother’s Day and made the flowers more precious than a dozen red roses. I noticed the first purple violets yesterday to compliment the dandelions scattered throughout the yard. Mother’s Day must be just around the corner. Don’t forget to stop the drums and enjoy the sight surrounding you in a mother moment. Happy Mother’s Day!