Preschool panic = learning opportunity

May 26, 2011

I often think running a family and running a cowherd share a lot of similarities.

(On a side note: I’m pregnant with baby #3 right now, so I’ve had fetal programming on the brain and I think there are quite a few similarities between obstetric care for people and bovines, but that’s a subject for another day.)

There are the things like calendars and scheduling, juggling lots of activities at once, keeping records (in full disclosure my kids’ baby books have not been updated since returning from maternity leaves) and planning ahead.

So it might be a leap, but I’ve recently had a moment of parenting panic that some of you cattle producers might relate to.

You see, where I grew up every little 4-year-old happily attended preschool. I didn’t realize that either a few decades time, or maybe just the change in states, moved that timeline up a year. I vaguely heard friends talk about sending their 3-year-olds to school in the fall, but I didn’t really think that applied to my firstborn baby.  Then he turned 3 in April and I realized those preschoolers would be his classmates someday. He already knows his colors and how to spell his name, but what if he’s missing out on some grand piece of knowledge?

So we just decided we better look into preschools. They’re pretty much all run privately and the options,even in my small community,are staggering. I called the first one: booked, with a two year waiting list. The next one: no openings. Apparently some people sign up for preschool the day their little newborns leave the hospital nursery. So as I make my way down the list, I feel a little behind the eight ball.

You never get that feeling on your farm or ranch, right? (If you answered yes, you can probably quit reading, but if that temporary panic sounds familiar, read on.)

I just thought maybe everybody could learn from my little experience. It’s called planning ahead. Those pretty little calves you have out on pasture with their mommas are going to be ready to make a go of it on their own in few short months, so starting thinking right now about ways to make that the best experience possible.

I gathered a few resources you might find helpful:

Early Weaning without Working Overtime

Weaning with a plan

CAB’s Best Practices Manual has chapters on nutrition and health that have suggestions specific to this big event.

As you think ahead to weaning, what do you plan for? Do you have your facilities in order? Do you have enough labor resources?

May your bottom line be filled with black ink,

~Miranda

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