Oh, the Happy Days on the Farm

Once upon a time a little girl spent most of her days on a farm in southern Minnesota with an older couple that she called, "Grandma" and "Grandpa." Grandma and Grandpa were a farming couple. They raised chickens, pigs, and cows besides their garden vegetables and the potato garden behind the barn. Their pastures were filled with clover and grass for the cows. There was a magical pond on their property where big bullfrogs, freshwater clams, and a large heron lived.

As the little girl grew, she learned that the farm produced most of the food that Grandpa and Grandma ate. They got their milk from the cows. They got their pork chops and bacon from the pigs. Their eggs came from the chickens. Clam chowder and frogs legs came from the clams and frogs that lived in the pond. The little girl thought this was great.

One day when Grandpa was milking the cows, he tilted the cow's teat towards the kitten sitting beside her. He pulled squirted milk right into the kitten's mouth. The little girl was amazed. Soon more cats and kittens came running up to Grandpa and started meowing. Grandpa grumbled but squirted milk at each one. When each feline had been fed, the little girl looked at Grandpa, squatted down, meowed and opened up her mouth. Grandpa chuckled and squirted some milk into her mouth, too.

The milk was warm and creamy. It tasted very sweet. The little girl licked her lips, wiped her mouth with her sleeve and meowed again.

"Just one for everyone, little girl," Grandpa said.

The little girl frowned, poked out her lower lip and looked down at the floor. She raised her eyes and looked at Grandpa in a most humble way.

"Oh no. No pouting and no begging," Grandpa said.

"But it's sweet and good," the little girl responded.

"That's from the clover, dear," Grandpa said, "I know, but if I give you another shot the cats will all want another one. Just one for everyone. OK?"

"OK," she agreed.

From that day on, the little girl went with Grandpa when he milked the cows. She lined up with the cats and kittens to get her one squirt of milk. Life was good.

Besides, she now had an important job to do when Grandpa milked the cows; she would hold the glass milk bottle while he squirted milk into it. The milk bottle was never to be put on the floor of the barn. This was very important.

When the glass milk bottle was filled, and the milking was done; Grandpa and the little girl would bring the full bottle to Grandma in the house. She would still wipe it down; and then, she would put a cap on it and put it in the refrigerator. Later at dinner, Grandma, Grandpa and the little girl would drink the milk. Dinner was what Grandma and Grandpa called lunch.

Oh, the happy days on the farm that the little girl had with Grandpa and Grandma. The food was very, very good. The air was had so many interesting smells. The animals were all pretty good except for the chickens who just wouldn't mind anyone. Momma Pig only got mad at the little girl once, and that was how the little girl learned that she couldn't go in the pig pen with the piglets if Momma Pig was awake. That was very scary, but Grandpa's helper pulled her out of the pen before Momma Pig reached the little girl. He saved her life, or so the little girl thought. The little girl knew that she was safe and loved on the farm.

It's amazing what can happy when a child feels safe and loved. Confidence grows. Self-esteem is strong. Laughter is plentiful. Honesty is nurtured. Beautiful days are experienced every day; even when it rains or illness takes over. Enough memories are formed to last a lifetime of adult pain and sorrow. A standard is set. Happy childhood days are important.

Certainly the environment can add to the experience, but most importantly it's the people who convey the message of simple peace and love. The little girl was very, very lucky to have so many wonderful people in her life when she was so little. Now that she is an adult, she remembers them with more gratitude than she ever knew that she would when she was a little girl. These people have shaped her. Her experiences on the farm have provided a stronghold of faith, strength, and simple determination. Her faith is based on basic human existence by down-to-earth, kind people who did not have much money but were doing what they could to survive and be happy.

Maybe this is the importance of mundane existence lived with grace and compassion. Maybe this is what all children should aspire to be; kind, determined, conscientious adults who accept their circumstances and are grateful for all the simple pleasures in their lives. To protect a child from angst and strive to live a peaceful, loving life is more valuable than any scientist can quantify. There is no earthly measurement for the good that is created by when adults remember that they and the children around them deserve the very best that can be produced.

On the farm, Grandpa and Grandma raised many things; but mostly, they raised healthy children because they were healthy adults. At least that's how the little girl who is now a semi-healthy adult sees it.