Our Rural Roots

Katie Pratt, Contributor

Both of my farm kids graduate this May -- my son with his associate degree in agribusiness. He will finally farm without the interruption of school, which he has loathed since kindergarten. We are fortunate there is space for him to grow with the family's farm.

My daughter will graduate from high school and pursue a degree in agriculture education at a premier university far, far away. We are genuinely excited about her next chapter despite the distance. Honestly, I am. We are, my farmer and I. Excited. Truly.

However, I'm having second thoughts, not about my kids' next steps but about mine.

My kids and I have logged thousands of miles to and from school for practices, games or performances. We've sat in silence, laughed, argued, cried, strategized, sang with the windows down and the music loud. They never seemed to mind me tagging along. So, I drove, they talked, and preschool turned to high school in a blink.

For 17 years, I played the stereotypical role of involved mom. When the kids were little, I "stayed at home," making me an available volunteer for school day functions. So, I organized eight years of pancake breakfast fundraisers, eight years of elementary school book fairs, served as a Sunday School teacher, 4-H Cloverbud leader and team mom for T-ball, baseball and softball. I inherited volunteer roles from other moms -- concession stand operator, cross-country snack coordinator and musical promotions manager.

My personal identity is that of mom and cheerleader to my kids and so many others. Thankfully, I have nieces, nephews and friends' children for whom I can cheer. I can't yet envision a less congested calendar not ruled by school activities. But, I can see a bigger garden and more time swaying on the porch swing while listening to my daughter's newest adventure and hoping my son slows long enough to sit beside me to share his latest farming dream.

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-- Katie Pratt writes and shares her love of agriculture from a north-central Illinois farm. Find her writing blog at https://theillinoisfarmgirl.com/…

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