Learning on the Farm

"What to say to children about losing chickens."

I typed that in the other night. We suddenly lost two chickens and although we've talked about this happening, it hit them hard. And I was desperate. Maybe you'll laugh at me. That's okay. I know....they're livestock and it will likely happen again despite our best efforts. It's why we don't give them names and why we try not to consider them "pets". We often talked about the circle of life. But they still cared for them enough to be upset.

One of my children drew a picture. One of them just needed me to hold them and talk. And one of them was just too young to understand why the other two were crying. But she cried too.

I guess it's another lesson we are learning along the way here at the farm: there isn't a loss that is too small to make a big impact and tug at the heart a bit.