The Real Life Ranch Wife takes a moment in between refilling her coffee cup to give thanks for her chaotic, wonderful rural life.
2018 was a big year for the Youngs. We expanded our family, moved to a new ranch in Oregon, and I finally cleaned out the glove box in the pickup. Those of you with neatly organized vehicles will scoff, but the other 95% of the population will join me in celebrating the discovery of my travel hairbrush, last year’s W2 forms, and the registration papers for a horse that died in 2011.
My husband, Jim, and I welcomed another baby in October, mainly because last year’s cow camp winter was especially long. In hindsight, it would’ve been cheaper to just get satellite TV. But the baby’s head smells delicious, and he looks just like his daddy, so we plan to keep him.
Little Levi is a happy infant and much adored by his older siblings, even though big sister, Grace, was initially disappointed to learn that he wasn’t a girl. She cheered up when her dad said she could still dress him up in headbands and bows until he was big enough to defend himself.
Besides playing with her real, live baby doll, Grace started kindergarten this fall. Due to our extremely remote location, she rides the school bus 42 miles one-way and attends a two-room schoolhouse. Including transit time, our 5-year-old daughter is gone 40 hours each week. She basically has a full-time job, except with more fruit snacks and Play-Doh.
Our newly minted middle child, 3-year-old Milo, has recently developed speech skills comparable with his older sister. Road trips now include backseat conversations consisting entirely of “No way, Jose,” countered by “Yes way, Jose” for 300 miles. Sometimes, our eardrums actually jump out and run alongside the vehicle screaming in agony.
Besides increased agony, my recent promotion to Mom Of Three has brought a few other changes to my parenting style. I now say things like “Don’t use your baby brother for a pillow” and “Please don’t jump directly over the baby. Give his head at least a two-inch space cushion.”
With three kids living in the house and zero kids sleeping through the night, I now frequently find myself awake between the hours of “all” and “of them.” I often wonder how much coffee is too much for a nursing mom, but I am afraid to ask because the authorities might make me remove my intravenous caffeine drip. I’m equally curious and similarly afraid to ask why the baby is riding the dog around the house yelling “Yee-haw” and “gig ‘em!”
My husband is now home more often to help me drink coffee and chase children. For the first time in three years, he works at a ranch that doesn’t pull a spring and fall wagon. At first, he wasn’t sure he could handle not sleeping in a bedroll and living in a tipi during the freezing rain and sweltering heat. Could his system handle eating off plates washed with actual dish soap after months of playing the guessing game “ash clump or dead fly” while eating beef stew around a campfire? He was apprehensive, but bravely sampled my homemade lasagna and didn’t even complain about using a clean fork.
I hope this year was equally chaotic and wonderful for each and every one of you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to make another pot of coffee and file an amendment with the IRS. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
2 Comments
Your stories are absolutely hilarious and remind me so much of when my kids were young. You definitely have the ranch wife life down regardless of what you say. I’m not sure I would have survived in some of the places you have lived but they definitely make for great stories. Most people probably don’t believe you but as a ranch mom I know you are not exaggerating. I’ve lived most of it and am looking forward to repeating it with my grandkids that are 1 and 3. You are an amazing writing and should consider publishing a book. I’d be 1st in line to buy it. Send me an email I’d love to hear from you. Still at Big Springs in charge of the Computer lab and Technology. Try not to fall out of your chair as you read that. The learning curve was high for me not the students. I learn something new everyday and I think I’m actually starting to get it after 4 years. Take Care. Love Mrs. Luiz. I’m not sure if my blog post got to you so I’m trying again.
Your stories are absolutely hilarious and remind me so much of when my kids were young. You definitely have the ranch wife life down regardless of what you say. I’m not sure I would have survived in some of the places you have lived but they definitely make for great stories. Most people probably don’t believe you but as a ranch mom I know you are not exaggerating. I’ve lived most of it and am looking forward to repeating it with my grandkids that are 1 and 3. You are an amazing writing and should consider publishing a book. I’d be 1st in line to buy it. Send me an email I’d love to hear from you. Still at Big Springs in charge of the Computer lab and Technology. Try not to fall out out of your chair when you read this.