I’ve had a couple of people ask me what an average day looks like for me. I think people imagine that I do the whole farmers wife thing, getting up early to cook breakfast and feed animals (Country Boy is currently snorting with derisive laughter).
The reality is that what the day looks like depends on the time of year, as well as any number of other variables; kids activities, what Country Boy is doing on the farm or in the garden. At the moment we are on holidays, so the routine is a little different, but in general this is what the day looks like:
We get up a little after 7 am on school days, and then it is straight into getting ready for work or school. The kids have porridge or cereal for breakfast. Country Boy makes their lunches whist I do hair. No matter how organised I try to be, there is always some one who can’t find socks, or the right headband, or their library bag. The girls and I all try to be out the door at about 8.15 am. In the summer months, CB often gets up before the rest of us to water the garden or do other things that are best done before it gets too hot.
Once we are out of his hair, Country Boy and Toby let chickens out and then get on with what ever they have planned for the day. Country Boy tries to balance the need to get things done around the garden or farm with allowing Toby time to play.
I get home from work somewhere between 4 pm and 6 pm. When I get home it is generally straight into the whole homework, getting dinner routine. If I’m home earlier, I sometimes get a few minutes to snap a few photos, or sit and chat with the Country Boy. Dinner usually involves some kind of harvesting from the garden. Once I get home, Country Boy will often try to get any jobs done that he can’t do with Toby around.
I am always grateful that we plan our meals for the month, because it means that I know what is for dinner, and can get it going. Country Boy will often get meat out of the freezer or start dinner earlier in the day too.
In summer, after dinner, Country Boy will head out again to do some more work in the cooler evening, while I finish putting the kids to bed. Once they are in bed I use the time to write a blog post, or prep school work. In the winter, CB will usually stay in after dinner.
Of course all this changes on the weekend, or during school holidays. It is during these times that I get all the extras done like preserving the food, cleaning, and organising.
I often get asked how do I balance it all, and fit it all in. The truth is that I don’t know that I do. I have a fabulous husband, and together we just bumble on and do our best with what we have before us, like every does.
Got a question about me, or our country life? Ask away!
