In a few days, we will pack up our trusty minivan and haul the kids across the province on a multi-stop, 7day road trip (God help me). Our ultimate destination is my parents’ farm in southwestern Ontario. Whenever we are there, I am reminded of how different my childhood was from my kids’. I watch them mucking about and climbing everything, testing the limits of their physical abilities and taking risks that I’m not always comfortable with. I know they benefit greatly from their time on the farm. I always leave with a renewed determination to provide similar experiences here in the ‘big city’.
The rules (and my parenting style) are inexplicably different on the farm. Proof: below is a list of things I said to my kids on our last trip to the farm in March:
5 Things I Never Thought I’d Say To My Kids:
1 – “Yes you can have a closer look at the dead rat.”
2 – “Sure you can get closer to the (700lb) cow so you can get a better look at her tongue.”
3 – “Sure you can climb the (10ft.) ladder to play in the hay loft.”
4 – “Yes you can use those old bricks to build your ‘octopod’. Just be careful not to drop one on your foot…or on your younger brother.”
5 – “Guys, it’s time to come inside. Come warm up in front of the tv.”
