Appreciation
I think one of the greatest benefits I’ve discovered from being “out of action” has been Farmboys increasing appreciation for what I do as a stay at home mum. It’s not that he wasn’t appreciative before. It’s just that now he REALLY UNDERSTANDS what I do all day.
For instance, he used to get up and go to work by around 6am. Naturally I would get the kids organised and off to school for the day. At the moment that’s his job. And he can’t believe how much LESS he gets done at work these days. Not just because he leaves for work 2 hours later. But because he is so TIRED after the effort of getting the kids ready in the morning. His comment to me went something like “I’m amazed you have the energy to get ANYTHING done in a day after getting the kids ready for school”. 
I smile and nod and refrain from pointing out that most of the time I’ve been doing it I’ve also had to breastfeed a baby during that time.
Today we started shearing. Shearing has tended to be an ongoing saga in this family. At least until Farmboy took over running some of the sheds. He seems to have more success with getting shearers when he wants them than his dad ever has (it’s a long story).
Usually I cook for the shearers. It’s kind of expected around here. A long-term tradition. You don’t *have* to cook for the shearers. You can pay them a fee to bring their own lunch. BUT, shearer’s tend to get grumpy if they have to bring their own lunch so if you want to keep the shearers happy, you feed them. And you feed them well.
For the past couple of years, Farmboy has had to organise his own shearing food for the shearers. I just haven’t been up to the planning, shopping, preparation and execution of this task since my breakdown.
In fact, one of my biggest fears with marrying a farmer was the very thought of having to cook for shearing. At 19 years of age I had NO IDEA if that was something I would be able to manage. I really had NO IDEA if I could even COOK!!!!
(Inspired by Pioneer Woman’s Black Heels to Tractor Wheels story, I have been contemplating writing a series of my own about how Farmboy and I met and ended up together. My writing style isn’t quite as eloquent as hers though).
Anyway, away from shearing and back to the topic at hand - appreciation. Farmboy came in this morning and said to me “remind me to put you on the shearing payroll when you get back on your feet. This shearing cooking is a full-time job”. LOL. You think?
Usually I bake leading up to shearing. He’s bought all ready made stuff. Often for lunch they’ll get something homecooked. Farmboy bought chickens and a ready-made lasagne. Often I’ve had to travel to take the food to the shearers. He’s cooking for the shed right here. Yeah, cooking and preparing food for shearing is pretty much a full-time job for the duration.
Anyway, the point of this post wasn’t to complain. I have to admit cooking for shearing isn’t my favourite job as a farmers wife but thankfully I have discovered I do have the ability to do it (normally) and it’s not that bad. Of course, it’s still nice to be appreciated.
I wonder if he really WILL add me to the payroll……..????? Unlikely. It’s the thought that counts. Right? RIGHT? 
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I have never lived on a sheep farm but I have stayed at enough to know that shearing time is absolutely full on. How good that Farmboy is looking after the food for the shearers. They certainly work up an appetite. And yeah being on the payroll would be good but if it doesn’t happen, like you said its the thought that counts.
Can you invest in a couple of slow cookers for the shearing sheds and let the food cook with minimal effort from you or Farmboy??
I think that you SHOULD make sure that you are on the payroll… hehe… I admire you for what you do. I am sure it does get tiring at times. I remember growing up (in Australia) and always hearing the ’stories’ about Shearers etc I guess also growing up and hearing about the ‘old days’… Still, I had always wanted to try it, at least just once… take care…
Sometimes its the ‘thank you’ & the ‘i appreciate you’ ’s that mean the most.
The whole ‘walk a mile in my shoes’ really is an eye opener. I’m glad he’s starting to understand.
I’ve never lived on a farm but I’ve spend time on my uncle’s & I’ve seen the hard work that goes into shearing.
Look after yourself & keep smiling.
Ciara
http://simplyfriendstime.blogspot.com/
Gemisht - some shearers eat more than others. It’s quite tricky to work out quantities as our shearers can tend to change regularly. We only have a “two-stand shed” so it’s not as full-on as some shearing sheds.
Felicity - you never know….we’ll see what happens.
I’m trying to work up the guts to go and take some photo’s in the shearing shed so I can do a post on shearing. LOL.
Ciara - Yes, knowing you are appreciated is really important. I think it’s easy to forget that and not express our appreciation for one another often enough.
Oh please go take some photos… they would be awesome! And please write.. I’d love to hear about it all!
And ah you must feel so good that he finally has some real understanding on what it is like to do your job…. It is something that I battle with often. I don’t want to whinge about all the stuff I have to do, because mostly I chose this role as mother and house keeper and mostly I am happy that I am able to have a choice…. but sometimes it feels like the only way to make him understand is to whinge about it… either that or run away so he has no choice but to deal with it all on his own.. if only my boobs were detachable! LOL
As someone else said, it sometimes takes the actual experience for others to realise what is done.
I remember working in an old folks home once, and a spry old Scottish lass (Miss Jean, actually) of 95 years young would talk about her days being a shearers cook!
I spent time on a sheep station when I was 15. I’d been hired as housekeeper for the main house. Duties included cleaning the living room and kitchen, washing dishes and cooking for the stationhands. There were only two of those, but the amount of food I had to cook was astonishing. Start the kitchen fire at 5am, cook 2 pounds of bacon, a dozen sausages, a dozen eggs, (the family ate breakfast with the hands) a whole loaf of bread was toasted and the teapot was enormous. After cleaning up those dishes I had to straightaway start baking for smoko. The lady of the house, old Mrs G helped me out here as I had no idea, from her I learnt to make rock cakes, lamingtons (rarely eaten, too much fuss involved), plain butter cakes, scones, things that were easy and filling. I left just before shearing time so didn’t get to experience any of the hustle and bustle associated with it. I was only there for about 4 months, but I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.
Can someone explain lamingtons for me? I’ve heard of them before but I’m still in a decongestant induced fog, trying to fight off this head cold.
I would concur with the idea of a crock pot. It might ease the cooking.
Maggie; lamingtons are sponge cake squares (make a slab cake, cut into squares when cold) dipped in runny chocolate icing , not too runny, but runny enough to coat easily, then straight away rolled in dessicated coconut.
Thanks River. I don’t think I’ve had Lamingtons before. They sound nice though.
I love shearing time. In the past I have taken time off work to be home for the entire week so I can cook for shearers. Ours are lovely and SO appreciative! We do have a vegetarian which makes things a bit tricky though!
We are shearing at the moment (STILL!) and this year we have had to ask the shearers to bring their own lunch. I just haven’t been able to spare the time. We are paying them extra, and they don’t seem to mind.
I really enjoy the comaradarie of a shearing shed, and often go and have morning/afternoon tea with them. I also like to do a bit of shed handing as it’s GREAT exercise!