Well i just thought I would share that it has been about 5 weeks since we had the 2 goats and about 3 weeks that we've had the chicks.

My youngest son, Ben - whom is 21 months old, is in love with the animals. As soon as he gets up in the morning his welly boots go on and he's trying to head out the door. So picture him standing their in yellow PJ's and black welly boots. He also thinks that the 5 gallon water bucket is his personal water park. He climbs in it (if I forget to empty it while we are out their) and dunks himself up and down until he's soaking wet. Then sometimes he steps in the water bucket unbeknown to me and when I go to take off his welly boots, surprise, surprise they are full of water.

My other son, Peter whom is 5, thinks it is cool to grab a baby chicks and sit with it on his lap as he goes down the kiddie slide.

Other times when I'm playing ball with my dopey 110 lb Shepherd he doesn't see where the ball goes and even though he'd find it eventually it keeps my 5 year old son busy trying to find it for him.

I've just got to love my kids as they make me smile and keep me sane.

Anita

-- anita (anitaholton@mindspring.com), September 14, 2001

Answers

Response to kids and livestock....

It always amazes me how great it is to watch things thru kids eyes.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), September 14, 2001.

Pearl, our milk cow, is wonderful with kids. She will "tease" me (naughty girl), but will hold perfectly still when my 8 yr old daughter comes out to pet her. Now, my 15 yr old son does think it is great fun to play golf, hitting walnuts with his yard sale golf clubs into the pasture, aiming for the roosters. I dont think he ever got one. He is starting to learn to milk the cow, but I tend to be selfish, as I love that chore. I know, I really need to train him in, but I find it more fun to go out there alone and sit quietly listening to barnyard sounds. It sure beats trying to communicate with a 15 yr old boy! lol

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), September 14, 2001.

I had the great blessing of being allowed to bring my children to work this summer (I work at a nursery/vegetable/apple farm). They had a wonderful time and loved working with the crew. The girls I work with and I joked about our job being child's play since even my 5 year old son could do it well!!!

My 8 year old daughter helped me milk the goats again this evening. She keeps bugging me to let her do it all by herself. I will let her do so sometime, but I want her ability to match her confidence first! She actually does pretty well. My son tries, but his hands aren't large enough, especially for the saanen's big teats (she's like a cow!!).

This evening, my daughter and I spent about 2 hours harvesting anything even close to ripe in the garden, not finishing until after dark. It may frost tonight, and if it doesn't, reports say it most definately will tomorrow night. I wanted to get everything that I could into the house. She got to harvest the onion patch by herself. She felt obligated to harvest some carrots (my kids LOVE to pull carrots). My son helped me on Monday when I picked the winter squashes and pumpkins. Oh, and the one and only watermelon I've ever managed to grow! (I was as thrilled as they were!)

I'm so pleased (and I think blessed) that they love both the animals and the gardening that I do here.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), September 14, 2001.

It is good to hear the stories of kids and animals. I've looked out the window in the past to see my nine year old lying on a horse as it is lying in the field. The most amazing part is these horses are for experienced riders only when saddled, as they can be quite the handful, even dangerous on the roadside when they shy from things or buck. Even my two year old loves to hay the horses, one itty bitty handful at a time! The horses love it when the kids pay attention to them. Wherever my kids are in the yard, the horses are in the part of the pasture closest to them. Cats and the dog share their beds when not following them about the yard. In the spring we will add chickens. Rabbits soon too. From the Maine Countrysiders Lobsterfest, I know they'll love the chickens.

Kids and animals are a wonderful combination, as well as a joy to watch. Looking forward to hearing more stories!

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), September 15, 2001.

Please be careful with Ben and the 5 gallon water bucket. Too many toddlers are drowned each year in these buckets. They end up head first in them and can't get back out before they drown.

-- Steve in So. WI (Alpine1@prodigy.net), September 15, 2001.

I have to agree with you on the chickens, especially. I wonder what our neighbors think (we have 2 1/2 acres that backs up to a regular "neighborhood", and I wonder what they think when they hear me yelling at the 2 year old "Put the chicken down!". I am always afraid he will squeeze them too hard, and these poor birds have had a rough enough life! (every canine from stray Beagle to neighborhood Husky to fox and coyote from who know where and who cares as long as they don't come back has had a crack at these girls) P.S. I know where he is coming from, I used to tame my dad's pigs and ride them around the pen. He never let me forget that one!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), September 18, 2001.