70: Homesteading with kids can be tricky – do it anyway (with Teri Page)
I am frequently asked questions about homesteading with kids, especially little ones. My family came to homesteading later in life—my sons were turning 8 and 9 when we moved to the farm. So while I can answer some questions of the the ins and outs of homesteading with kids, there are also some phases of life we didn't experience on our farm, because we weren't here yet. Thankfully Teri Page from Homestead Honey (author of Family Homesteading: The Ultimate Guide to Self-Sufficiency for the Whole Family) does have experience with that and was willing to sit down and talk with me. (Don’t want to read all the words? This blog post is also a podcast—just press the triangle play button on the little black bar at the top of this post!) Teri and her husband started homesteading in 1999, pre-children. So from the very beginning, their kids were immersed in the lifestyle. For them, it wasn't even a question of are we homesteading with kids? It was more this is our life and the kids were along for the ride because homesteading is what their parents did. What are the pros of homesteading with kids? We all know that when electing to live as homesteaders, there is so much stuff we have to learn. As a homesteading family, you get to learn that stuff together. Your kids will see you learn, fail, adjust, and make decisions. There are a ton of life lessons that happen on the homestead that are hard to get elsewhere. I also think kids have a much deeper understanding of the circle of life and what it requires to get food—vegetables or meat—from the land to their plate. They have a much deeper comprehension of that process and how much works goes into it. Teri agrees, and offers that homesteading with kids is really all about the values you want to share with your kids— you're out in nature, connected with plants and animals and something bigger than yourself. You are teaching your kids how to be self sufficient, work hard, and respect other beings. As Teri sees it, the homesteading lifestyle is an outward expression of those values. Teri says, "the homesteading lifestyle is about creation—making and doing—and it's the ultimate gift I can give to my kids." What are the cons of homesteading with kids? There are things that can be tough about homesteading with kids. For instance, growing up on a homestead that raises animals for meat brings with it many challenges in dealing with the reality of life and death—both for the kids, and as the parent witnessing the emotions the kids may experience. When involving kids, sometimes the reality of what is and isn't possible on the homestead can also be a tough discussion. Sometimes money is tight, space is limited, or schedules are full. "My kids' wishes and their desires (of what they want on the farm) doesn't always mesh with the adults' desires," says Teri. "If it were up to my kids, they'd have baby chicks every day of the year! I mean they are adorable, but sometimes reconciling the reality of this is what we can do and this is what we can't do can be tough." Having a life off the homestead can sometimes be tough as well. "I love traveling and I love being able to take the kids out on adventures," says Teri, "but it's so hard to find house sitters and animals sitters and it can be hard to get away for periods of time to do some of those adventures. It doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Especially now as the kids are getting older, I feel like the time we have with them to do those kinds of things off the homestead is really fleeting. When we talk about are we going to get cows again, are we going to get goats again, there is part of me that is really hesitant because I know that not only do I want to do those (traveling) adventures, but my kids are also getting into a phase of life where they may want to choose their own adventures." "How do you know what tasks are age-appropriate when homesteading with kids?"
