I posted this on another forum too so you may have read it there.
Because I was semi retired I started doing "grandpa's day care" off and on about 12 years ago. First one son's baby then another. Finally a daughter needed and still needs daycare. Then about a year ago a problem came up with one of our sons family. His wife has severe mental health issues. They moved in with us. Then she had a spectacular melt down and she is now living on her own and freely admits she has trouble taking care of herself much less the 2 girls, 2 and 8. And my son has to work.
So much for empty nest and time to do things like start up farming. A couple of weeks ago I was chomping at the bit to get hay put up. Waiting on him to get back home from work (my wife was at work) so I could get busy with a storm moving in. I actually thought (shame on me) grandkids sure get in the way of farming. Then immediately I was ashamed of myself and thought that if the grandkids were getting "in the way of farming" maybe I should at least cutback if not quit. Grandkids are more important than a dream. The cows ship tomorrow. So much for building a herd. I'm going to keep about 15 acres of hay ground just to have something to play with and an excuse to keep some machinery but other than that I'm done. My nephew will farm the rest in return for a feeder once a year in the spring. Wife will keep her chickens for our own eggs too and I raise my own pork.
Rick
Because I was semi retired I started doing "grandpa's day care" off and on about 12 years ago. First one son's baby then another. Finally a daughter needed and still needs daycare. Then about a year ago a problem came up with one of our sons family. His wife has severe mental health issues. They moved in with us. Then she had a spectacular melt down and she is now living on her own and freely admits she has trouble taking care of herself much less the 2 girls, 2 and 8. And my son has to work.
So much for empty nest and time to do things like start up farming. A couple of weeks ago I was chomping at the bit to get hay put up. Waiting on him to get back home from work (my wife was at work) so I could get busy with a storm moving in. I actually thought (shame on me) grandkids sure get in the way of farming. Then immediately I was ashamed of myself and thought that if the grandkids were getting "in the way of farming" maybe I should at least cutback if not quit. Grandkids are more important than a dream. The cows ship tomorrow. So much for building a herd. I'm going to keep about 15 acres of hay ground just to have something to play with and an excuse to keep some machinery but other than that I'm done. My nephew will farm the rest in return for a feeder once a year in the spring. Wife will keep her chickens for our own eggs too and I raise my own pork.
Rick