How do people have kids and jobs?

We took our first birthing class last night. As this whole parenting thing still seems hard to believe, this was a pretty healthy dose of reality. The graphic enactment of childbirth pain that the midwife teaching our class performed for more than a minute definitely got our attention, at least.

A practice of mine for a little while now to help mentally prepare is, at random times throughout the day, asked myself, “Where would our little buddy be right now?”

I realized very quickly that, almost as a rule, he’s going to either be with both of us, or one of us. Outside of the exception of having someone watching our guy for the occasional date night, we will always be coordinating having him with us.

We’re very fortunate to both be self-employed, and even better, farmers. When I first decided to pursue the agricultural calling, the way it naturally enmeshes itself in and contributes so well to quality family life was a standout. Here I am 8 years later, amazed at just how true that observation is being fulfilled.

While it is surreal to think that there will be a tiny life attached to us at any given time, we will be so blessed he will be able to be with us. If we were working regular jobs, the best hours of our week would be leased out to someone else, and in turn we’d need to hire out a substantial amount of our kid’s care requirements. We are grateful to be in a position that we can not only keep him with us, but the life around him will be more stimulating, exciting, and wondrous than any screen he could be tied to. Here’s to farm life.