Yesterday our family headed out to the Birsmatte farm where we have our vegetable co-op to fulfill our obligation of labor in exchange for cheaper veggies. We didn’t plan much how we’d work and take care of Joseph at the same time, and I think it was better that way. We just went with the flow. I think I would have been intimidated by the thought of nursing Joseph while squatting in the fields or wielding a hoe while carrying Joseph on my chest, but it all seemed to work out when it had to. At first we parked him by the well-traveled path and went into the fields almost out of ear-shot. That might have worried the strongest Free-Range Kid mom and I wasn’t so happy with it myself. We ended up carrying the stroller to the middle of the field where we were better able to check on him. After a bit he wasn’t happy and we tried putting him on my back with the wrap, but he didn’t like that much and it made the work tougher for me. Though he was tired he wouldn’t sleep so I finally put in him the wrap (in front) knowing he would sleep, which he did almost immediately. I figured out how to hoe standing straight up and squatting instead of bending to pick the weeks closer to the fennel. We actually quite enjoyed the work and finished three rows of fennel from 10am to 12:40. We were quite tired and hungry at that point and contemplated getting MacDonald’s down the road, but decided that would be too ironic given that we’d just worked on an organic farm and had organic vegetables at home that needed to be eaten.
I feel very unpoetic, but I haven’t been getting loads of sleep, so this will have to do.
How very awesome!
Leaving Joseph and the stroller almost out of earshot would have made me nervous, too, but here's something relevant from the FRK book:
[About 10 years ago,] a Danish woman on vacation in New York did as the Danes...do: she parked her sleeping daughter in her stroller outside a restaurant and then went in to have dinner.... Next thing you know, the parents were under arrest for child endangerment.
Endangerment? Thee mom thought she was giving her baby exactly what all babies need: nice spring air!
The incident became raging tabloid fodder for a week—sane mom? crazy mom?— the baby was whisked off to foster care and the parents were whisked off to prison. Three days later they were released on the following condition: don't do this again within six months, and we won't press charges. The Danish mom didn't stick around to test the system. She rushed back to Denmark, daughter in tow.
The Danish newspapers were outraged. After all, leaving kids outside unattended is common practice there, a sign of good sense, not neglect."
That's a little too extreme for me, and I like the solutions you found. But it's always interesting to see through others' eyes what one takes for granted.
Janet, kudos to you for farming with your baby! ;) And the little McD's vs. Organic dinner comment made me laugh. (I can totally understand that!)
So, I haven't heard of this Free Range Kids book, it's always nice to hear of other approaches (to child-rearing) out there. It made me think... perhaps I don't need to feel so guilty that I am not constantly forcing Lily to hold my hand everywhere we go. I get a lot of looks and even comments that border on scolding. I sure don't take risks that I see are unnecessary, but I also don't care to have my child feel like a pet poodle with a collar. What seems right to me is for her to learn self control and obedience to my voice; my use of physical restraint might not always be there, so if that's all she knows we have a problem. Is that anything like the philosophy of FRK?
p.s. I hope you don't mind that I comment so much on your blog. :)
Janet can speak for herself, but I'm glad you comment on her blog!
Here's a shameless plug for my review of Free-Range Kids, where you can also find a link to the FRK blog. Your attitude toward walking with Lily is exactly an FRK idea. (I LOVE the "pet poodle with a collar" image.)
I don't know much about FRK, but Mom has supplied you with the information you need. As to comments on the blog, it's a bit rough that you care about me enough to be involved in my life, but I guess I can put up with it. ;) (That's a "thanks" to those not "in the know.")
