I have “Sunday Syndrome”. I am not sure it is a real condition but I am definitely afflicted. The day starts with lazy smiles and lingering conversation over coffee but by afternoon my stomach tightens, my mood sours, and I start to panic about the to-do list that is still a mile long. The weekend is ending. By night, I am usually pissy, thinking about Monday. Mondays guarantee to be busy at work, with most conversations starting with my pet has had “X” for the past 3 days…
So in search of life’s purpose and happiness I rethought how I would respond to today. I have been addicted to Ted Talks, as they quickly fill the empty minutes of drive time. There are some pretty brilliant people with some great thoughts on happiness and so I thought “What do I have to gain?” if I started implementing some of these ideas.
The suggestions range from “staying in the moment” to “choosing positivity”. One Ted Talk speaker, Shawn Anchor laid out some happiness exercises I decided to try. Real exercise is actually one so today we went outside- fresh air and sunshine usually brightens my mood. Exercise #2: The Doubler…You take the positive and write down and share the details of your experience…. so here you go… our Sunday.
“Cows and Kids”
Calving is at its peak so much of the day was spent with the cattle. Jacob and Brad play a game of “who will calve first” or “who will calve next”. Brad has the clear advantage and predicts with much accuracy and Jacob just chooses his favorite cow, the lone horned red. Jacob did predict twins last night and so shockingly the morning started with “TWINS”. With much ado, one of the twins was adopted by a poor gentle first calve heifer that lost her premie calf. With some tranquilization and careful suggestion, we are hoping it is a start of a beautiful relationship. Meet adoptive momma:
The boys drug around some toys as we checked cows and found opportunity to do some driving as we waited on the hubby or while watching gates. The boys love the hubby’s old toys and I love their sounds, imagination, and chubby fingers finessing the truck’ s movements.
We welcomed a lot of babies today. They literally hit the ground ready to stand and suckle and are pretty self-sufficient.
Jacob was assigned the important task of helping write ear tags…on the back of the tag. Each new calf is assigned a tag color and number based on the owner and his mother. Male calves receive their new bling in the right ear and the female calves in the left. While the boys know anatomy far to well…just ask… they also love to quickly declare if the calf in view is a boy or girl. Some have names. Most don’t.
Jacob has a pretty solid “Ranch Kid Education” and Caleb is following suite. As we started Pre-K education, we’d show Jacob an apple in a picture book and enthusiastically ask “What color?” A blank stare followed. But ear tags excited him and he quickly learned the colors and what each color meant.
Calves are largely “hands off” due to protective mommas with body-crushing skulls so when the opportunity to cuddle comes available I take advantage. Meet adoptee:
So tonight, while the to-do list remains disturbingly untouched and the dirt-coated kiddos literally collapsed where they sat, I reflect on a day well spent…with cows and kids.
Dirt Roads Lead Me Home 