Kids Are Not Cows
Kids Are Not Cows
(12 May 2023)
Watching a cow give birth to a new calf is an amazing experience. When all goes right the front hooves come out first with the nose and head resting on the legs, followed by the rest of the calf’s long body. The calf lays on the ground and the mother begins to lick at the thick, gooey slime that covers her calf’s body with her rough tongue. Soon a most beautiful and shiny black and white coat comes to light.
It’s not long before this beautiful little creature starts to try and stand on wobbly legs. At first it seems the calf will never manage it, but before long the calf is standing and then looking for food from the mother. Obviously cows milk is what dairy farming is all about, but the milk that comes from a cow that just gave birth is not for human consumption. It is called colostrum and is a reddish-brown color because it is full of nutrients that this baby calf needs to properly develop. So while the newborn calf would often get some milk directly from the mother, we would also milk the new mother as the other cows except that the colostrum will go directly into a separate container to be fed to her new calf.
Within a couple days we would move this baby calf to the long shed where it would be protected from the elements with other young calves, each in their separate stall. If I remember right they would stay in the long shed a couple months before we would move them outside to a pasture where they could graze.
One of the first farm jobs I had was to carry buckets full of large milk bottles that my mom prepared, out to the long shed twice a day where I would feed these young calves milk and hay, pet them, let them suck my fingers, and watch in wonder as they rapidly grew bigger and stronger each day. I remember the heat lamps that we hung over the brand-new calves to help them survive the cold winter days, and cutting the bottle nipples open a little wider so the feeding would go a little faster. And I remember trying unsuccessfully to curl the buckets of milk bottles and keep my shoulders up as I carried them to the shed.
As I look back I realize that feeding the baby calves was one farm job I think I mostly enjoyed. It didn’t take as long, nor was it as boring as milking cows, plowing fields, and a myriad other dairy farm jobs. Plus, the baby calves were much cuter than the full-grown cows.
Megan holding Erick and Paloma’s cute baby human…
Baby people are also pretty cute. They are so cute that sometimes your mother has a hard time focusing on sacrament meeting talks when a cute baby is nearby. Turns out you were each one of those cute babies distracting other mothers’ thoughts from well-prepared spiritual discourses.
4 May 2023 bachelorette party!!
I am finding that although the adventures change as my kids grow, the wonder of the experience only increases. It may be true that you no longer insist on wearing princess dresses every day, walk around only in yellow rain boots, show your belly on demand, cheer for the garbage truck, or frequently press your forehead to our foreheads. Yet watching you each learn, make decisions, develop talents, and grow physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially continues to amaze me.
Kelsey in Beauty and the Beast…
I was so grateful last week to participate in Cameron and Sydney’s wedding and be reminded once again of our wonderful children. The wedding was beautiful, the sealer taught some wonderful truths, I was filled with gratitude for temple blessings in my life, and I marveled at the beautiful young woman who once vomited many times per day that was now kneeling at the alter across from her handsome husband.
It is hard to believe that all my children are bigger than both my parents!
It was hard to believe this wonderful young lady was the same that came to our home and almost had her eyes poked out by her doting big sister! After the wedding and pictures came the luncheon and reception which were delicious, wonderful, and beautifully presented.
Cameron and Sydney at the luncheon…
When asked at the luncheon to share a few words, I spoke about the time Sydney was so angry with me that she crumpled up a beautiful drawing she had made. I don’t remember what I had done, but Sydney threw her crumpled drawing on the floor and went in her room crying. Some time later Sydney emerged crying and brought me that beautiful drawing. Sydney had been trying to make the paper smooth again but it wasn’t working. So with tears in her eyes she asked me if I could fix it. I will always remember the earnest desire in her eyes as she pleaded for help to fix what seemed to be ruined. That experience had a deep spiritual impact on my life. There is so much that I as your father cannot fix, but I know there is nothing the Savior can’t fix, in His own time and way as we turn to Him. I pray that we might all learn to turn to Him in our hours of need, and always.
I later learned there were snickers during my amazing discourse:)… apparently some had misconstrued my words and thought I had compared Sydney to a calf! As an authority on both calves and children, let me be perfectly clear… kids are not calves!!!
Baby sheep (in field by chapel of reception) are also not the same as children…Love always (even when you laugh at my stories),
Dad
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