Birthday’s in our house are a big deal, if you can still count your age on two hands. For The Farmer and me, we don’t really celebrate as we once did. This concept completely baffled the children in our house. So they decided last week for my birthday I would be celebrating.

On the night before my birthday, my Panda did not want to read a story before bed, say prayers or have anything to do with me and the bedtime routine. She basically shoved me out of her room with a grin on her face. After tucking in Monkey and Lion Cub, I headed back to my room to find this waiting outside my door.

I hate surprises, even ones my kids make. So I had to flip the paper over and peek.

The splotches are from me dripping water on the paper. But I was so excited to get a birthday card! And she ran into my room the next morning to see if I had read it. Fun.

Not to be outdone, Monkey was insistent that we would celebrate my birthday. She even told me she invited all of her friends to my party.  Never mind that I wasn’t having a party, her friends were going to be there. And then she started worrying about who was going to make my cake and what I wanted on it. After the disappointment of no party and cake, she made The Farmer take her to town for present shopping. When they came back she told me she bought my present at Menard’s. Great. Cans of paint, hog barn materials or 2×4’s.  I was excited to open this gift.

Instead of barn material, I received a very pretty flowering plant. And then another surprise…

I’m fairly certain these didn’t come from Menard’s. I added the bottle of wine myself.  But the roses were from Monkey. She was so proud of herself! I think the last time I receives red roses from The Farmer he may have been proposing a lifelong celebration of birthdays together. It’s been awhile.

Supper was prepared on the grill by The Farmer.  Steaks and pork chops, we couldn’t decide what we were really hungry for.

And since I knew no one would be preparing a cake, I bought a butterscotch pie from the local Amish store.  Who needs cake when you can have pie?!

It was a good day. And the kids were so proud of themselves. Even if there was no party!

I’ve said numerous times how much I love my job. I feel truly blessed to have a career that is so much fun and provides me an opportunity to be creative and tell a very different story of Indiana agriculture. But at the end of the day, what really brings me joy are these three little smiles and the love they provide.

My mind normally moves faster than I can keep up. Lately, my brain has been racing with the questions that come with raising a houseful of kids. I love my children completely. I think about them when I’m not with them and hate that they are growing up so fast.

I started worrying about the issue they will face as they get older long before they were ever born. My parents used to tell me they started praying for my future spouse when they found out they were pregnant with me! And now that I have kids, I understand what they were talking about.

Recently I’ve been struggling with some of the big questions that I know are coming down the road. Our Panda is seven years old and I know there are questions coming that will require some prayerful answers. While we hopefully have a handful of years before some of the big questions get asked, I know The Farmer and I have to be ready when those questions come out of her mouth.  The one I can’t wrap my brain around deals with boyfriends and what is appropriate and what isn’t. I think it’s all completely inappropriate!!  No boy better lay a hand on my girls and my Lion Cub better never touch a girl!! 

Now, you are likely rolling your eyes. And this is my struggle. Is it so wrong to teach our kids that they are to keep their hands, and all other parts of themselves, to themselves until they get married? Every time I listen to the radio, read an article or watch something on television, I constantly hear the message that “kids will be kids,” “everyone is doing it,” and society basically telling parents we are stupid if we think kids aren’t going to be a bit free in their relations.

I will admit I’m very conservative. My parents always told me that there was one guy for me and that I should wait for that person. And I don’t understand why it’s such a strange concept in today’s society.  Why are we, as parents, admitting that our kids will do something instead of teaching them to use some self-control?

Call me a prude. It’s OK. I’ve heard it before. Or tell me I’m wearing blinders and don’t want to see what’s coming. But know that my kids will be raised the same way my parents raised me. I don’t need society to tell me that everyone is doing it. But for now, thankfully, she still thinks boys have cooties and we have a few years before we have to address this question!