one last pic of Ben, who loves his bath

Everett and I were driving over to Golden Grain Farm when he said, “Mom, do you remember that little farm set I used to have? With the tiny plastic animals?”

I did. It had a red barn, corrals, and numerous cows, chickens, pigs, horses, etc.

“Well, I thought all animals were made of that stuff,” he told me, “and the first time I saw a cow in a field by the road, I wondered how much money the farmer who owned it must have, to be able to afford one so big.”

Today we’re talking about disciplining children. I am a no-nonsense caregiver, and if their parents aren’t around, young kids tend to do my bidding without question. (Okay, they can get away with one question, maybe even two; I’m not unreasonable.) Everett wondered why that is. I guessed that it’s because they figure out very quickly that they can count on me to be fair, but that I mean what I say and I look serious, like I mean business. Blame it on my face.

He went on to mention the memorable (because of their rarity) spankings he and Emil got (there is always a better way and I do not believe there is any value in corporal punishment, but have used it in times of stress and impatience), and the more common method that worked so well with my boys: the “do-nothing” chair. They’d have to sit on a chair and do nothing for one minute for each year of their age.

“I hated that,” said Everett, “because I thought it meant you could do absolutely nothing, so I would sit there and try not to breathe.”

***

Everett has been helping me a lot in the other yard, digging holes for perennials mostly. Just after we got there the other day, a heron (American bittern) landed in the slough, which is not far from the house. I pointed it out to Everett and remarked “Bet it’s not everyone who gets to see a slough pump in their back yard.”