Thriving Through Calving Season: My 5 Top Tips for Farm Wives

Welcome to my latest blog post with a topic close to the hearts of farm wives everywhere – thriving through the demanding calving season. On our farm the busiest time of year is calving but these tips could be applied to the busy time on any farming operation.

For farm wives the busy season isn’t just on the farm its in the house as well. We find ourselves pulled in multiple directions trying to help on the farm as much as we can while still keeping the home fires burning and kids from running wild.

I’m here to share my top 5 tips to help you through the busy season. We’ll start by talking about realistic expectations and talking to your family about it. Then I’ll share the power of prepping meals ahead of time, getting others to help with chores and using technology smartly (this includes you and the kids). And because as mum we are generally hard on ourselves let talk about giving ourselves some grace in the busy season. Whether your used to calving season or its your first time, I have practical advice to make things smoother. Lets get started and make the most of this calving season!

1.       Setting Realistic Expectations

Setting realistic expectations is a crucial step to managing the challenges of calving season. Getting ready for calving season is a big deal, especially when you have little ones running around. It’s important to chat with your family about what’s coming up and how things might change for a while. Now my boys are a little older they know what to expect when it comes to calving time. They know that mum will be out early feeding calves and Dad will sometimes be in late as he is helping any cows that are having trouble. They know on weekends it means full days especially when our team members have their weekends off. They know that Mum will try her best to have dinner ready on time but some nights it will be toast and cereal. They know that Dad will try his best to make it to their football games but some weeks it will be Pop taking them instead.

By letting the boys know that this is calving month it allows them to know that our routine may vary and look a little different. It allows us to have the expectation that this month the focus will be on the farm as it’s a very important time for our business. If we try to treat it the same as the rest of the year we are setting ourselves up to be disappointed.

2.   Meal Prepping

Meal prepping is something I go through phases with and this past calving season I didn’t get any done before it got busy. I told myself it will be fine….I lied to myself. On those days when it got to 3pm and I realised I hadn’t taken meat out of the freezer I really kicked myself for not getting my but into gear and putting some meals in the freezer.

We know how busy it gets on the farm at calving time and having those meals in the freezer is a life saver. Think of having a delicious homemade dinner ready in no time, even when you have been feeding calves, cows needed attention and the kids have been keeping you on your toes.

Meal prepping can be as simple or as intense as you want it to be. The simple approach is when you are cooking meals make a bigger batch and freeze the extra. My favourites to do this with are spaghetti, pizza, burritos, lasagne, enchiladas and burgers. The other option is to have slow cooker dump bags. When you shop next time buy some extra meal ingredients put them into a ziplock bag and then you just defrost the day before and put in the slow cooker the next morning.

So, grab some extra groceries, spend some time cooking when you can, and pop those meals in the freezer. That way, when things get a bit crazy, you can still serve up something tasty and wholesome without all the stress. Because in the midst of calving season, having a warm meal that’s ready to go can be a true blessing for you and your hungry helpers.

3.   Delegate Chores

As a farming mum of primary school aged boys, calving season can bring its own set of challenges. As a perfectionist who likes to be in control the power of delegation is one that I struggle with. I know my boys (and that includes my husband) are more than capable of helping around the house but I like things done a certain way. Clothes not folded right, the bend not wiped after doing the dishes or dishes put back in the wrong cupboards makes me cringe and fight the urge to takeover. This area is still a work in progress for me as I learn that things being done a little differently is worth the load it takes off me.

In our family we work on the principal that we chose to farm for a living, but our kids didn’t. So, if they want to help with farm chores it is their choice (at this stage though they love coming to help with the calves), this choice does not extend to the house where everyone is expected to chip in and help out. The boys are expected to do the basics all year round; clearing their dishes, putting washing away, keeping their rooms tidy and feeding their pets to name a few. At calving time I usually ask them to step up a bit just so I don’t have as much to do when I walk back in the house. This can be as simple as my older boys helping their younger brother to get breakfast or unpacking the dishwasher in the morning.

Sit down and have a brainstorm with your kids about what chores they could do. Assigning them chores that are appropriate for their age and abilities. You will most likely find that one kid is happy to a chore that another one cant stand so this way you are playing to their likes and strengths. It is less likely that you will get push back or whinging if it’s a task they have chosen and don’t mind doing. Assigning a kid a task that they hate is a recipe for disaster. Honestly my boys have pleasantly surprised me by wanting to step up and take on some more responsibility when we have worked it out together instead of me just saying this is what’s going to happen.

It's not just about lightening my load, it’s about teaching them responsibility and working together as a family. With everyone chipping in, I have more time to handle my farm jobs and able to enjoy my time with them instead of my brain still being on the farm.

4.      Utilize Technology

In the whirlwind of calving season, staying connected is essential for smooth operations and peace of mind. This is where the power of technology steps in as a game changer. Honestly where would we be without mobile phones? Beyond the usual uses like calling and texting there’s a whole world of ideas to explore.

There are endless apps around to make your life easier, be it shared calendars, instant messaging, note taking apps or data tracking. We installed an auto ID system in the dairy when we built it 18 months ago and it has changed our world. All data about the cow is entered and it keeps track of everything in one place. Each day as the cow comes into the dairy it has current data available for that animal which is essential in our operation. Stephen can now look up cows from his phone and set any to draft for the next milking.

And then we enter the controversial arena of kids and screen time. In the busy season of calving, it’s worth highlighting that screen time for kids doesn’t have to be viewed as a negative. I will be honest and say that my boys do spend a fair amount of time on their screens. Though embracing technology doesn’t mean sacrificing outdoor activities or hands on farm experiences. It is about the balance of the two that is important. So, while they maybe a bit more time on screens when we are busy it doesn’t mean that is all they do. My boys love cricket and football and honestly this is what takes up most of their screen time. They are watching old games and looking up game and player statistics. Quiz my boys on football or cricket stats for the last 30 years and they are most likely going to know the answer. They then take all this knowledge outside and score their own games for hours.

So as you navigate calving season, remember that technology isn’t the enemy, its just one tool in your parent toolbox for getting through the busy period.

5.       Give Yourself Some Grace

In the midst of the busy period its so important to remind yourself that you are doing an exceptional job as a mum and farm wife. The demands of calving season can sometimes lead to a juggling act that can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to cut yourself some slack. Remember it’s perfectly okay to give yourself some grace.

When you find yourself thinking you aren’t doing enough stop and think if I friend said the same thing to you. More than likely you would look at her like she was crazy and tell her what a fantastic job she was doing.

The house may not be perfectly tidy and you may be having toast for dinner but your kids are not going to remember that. They will remember a mum who was dedicated and showed them her love every day.

Are you ready to embrace the next calving season with confidence? Put these tips into action and see the positive impact they can have on your busy season.

Have some tips you want to share? Let me know your top tips in the comments.