Kids

[Guest]

kids are the meaning of life, grandkids even better . it's all in how you raise them and you know how to do that . get on with it , lol

[crusher]

Kids, lots of fun. Get out what you put in. If you don't have kids you'll realize, in several years what's the point of building up your farm if no one is there to take over. We've got two grown boys - they put a smile on my face whenever I think of them. That being said, I'll be the end of our fourth generation farm but that's okay. Wife stayed at home before the kids went to school wouldn't have it any other way. They were not spoiled by stuff but smothered by momma's love.

[seldomseen]

If you have children you will never regret it and having more than the average size family may seem like a big job, you will still never regret it. We raised four and looking back I would not change a thing except to maybe have a few more. They become independent so fast that I hardly remember it being any work at all just a life style change and that change is for the better.
Your kids will end up being just like you. Like what others have said, don't spoil them and I have found that you should never do anything for them that they can do for themselves and that starts at an early age!
Best of luck with what you decide and just think how good it would be for the world if there was a few more Klause's and Darcy's.

[Rareearth]

Since no one has mentioned it, many today choose a pet.

[farmaholic]

Rareearth....dogs are amazing but humans tend to out live too many and I wouldn't want one in the house(to each their own though).

[makar]

every farm needs a dog and kids.

[makar]

Every farm kid needs a cat.

[malleefarmer]

good thread klause agree with sentiment and comments.

some kids love the bush and farms other are attracted by bright lights of city.

I have one city boy one half and half and one bush boy who will never leave the farm hates going to city or even town of 6000 people 35 kms away for shopping.

the wages of city and town attract them my middle guy is currently doing financial studies at uni and gets $32 bucks a hour working at a transport depot way better then $24 and hour he would get farming and esier work.

but often they ring and say dad we gotta getaway from city for a while and they head bush for a week

[malleefarmer]

re drugs when I was growing up in 80s I'm 63 vintage weed was around in the bush and beer I chose to stick with the beer probably cause I'm silly enough without anything else but nowadays I'm sure its not quite that simple a smorgasboard of illicit substances I presume.

I good friends with local policeman and asked him once about any drugs in our small town of 600 and surprisingly he said no just a bit of left handed tobacco but town 35 kms away ice is endemic and all sorts of other things.

most weeknends kids play sport for about 8 months of the year and other times well there helping on farms or fishing shooting motorbike riding doing crazy stuff in cars out in the scrub etc basically what we did.

[furrowtickler]

Kids can be a challenge but will prove to be a blessing as many have said here.
My advice , help them strive for excellence, not the mediocre style were everyone gets a ribbon .
Show them the passion it takes to farm , it will help them flourish if they choose agriculture.
No matter how tough at times it is to work for yourself , most of the time it's better than working under someone else .
You can't create much wealth working for someone else .