Recently I found myself really shocked to hear someone mention their fear of going to what they considered a 'rural' area and how awful and boring they thought it would be. Like they were taking vacation in the pits of hell . . . .
I have always lived in rural areas - I mean RURAL, rural. Like the first town I moved to that had stop lights??? SCARED.TO.DEATH. How was I ever going to find my way around? How would I ever remember all the names of all those streets?? This was before the invention of smart phones and GPS boys and girls! But I have never thought small towns and driving through farm country was boring. So I started pondering . . . .
My kids have always had plenty to keep them busy. Oh sure, I have heard the 'there's nothing to do' statement as many times as the next mom, but for the most part they were busy. There are creeks to walk, fish to catch, guns to shoot, a large yard to start up a baseball or football game in, friends to hang out with, forts to build, trucks to work on . . . . yes, all my kids have shot guns. Yes, I shoot a gun. I own my own gun. I'm not a terrorist. Nor a serial killer. But I have a lot of fun shooting targets and beating the men in my household! Especially if they have gotten cocky and decided to place a bet like doing the dishes for the week. . . yes. That happened. My youngest (16) chops wood, knows how to build things, hunts, fishes, 4-wheels, and drives an old pick up. A kid from the city may think all that sounds horrid. Some out there would call us rednecks, and not mean that as a good thing. We aren't stupid people. Both my husband and myself are college educated. My older child both went to college. My youngest is an honor roll student, plays high school baseball, helps out an elderly neighbor, is involved at church, and uses manners at least 60% of the time! He goes to have coffee with his grandfather or drives over to visit with his grandmother - just because. When his cousin had surgery, he went to Starbucks and bought her favorite drink to take to her. But here is what I think about the most. The life skills that are learned when you're 'country.' My kids can plant a garden, chop wood, fix a meal, know a little about plumbing and electricity and how to drive on snow and ice. They can clean a house and mow a lawn. They can not only hunt and fish for their own food, but field dress it, process it, clean it, and fry it up. They know their neighbors.
I am not saying that kids raised in the city don't learn life skills! All I am saying it - don't feel sorry for us out here in the cornfield! We are having a blast!
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