Mothers standing in judgment

      Remember the first time you heard a comment judging your choice as a mom? Did the claws come out or were you able to turn your head? Mothers don’t just judge each other on how they care for their children—they also judge each other on how they care for their cattle.

         While I was at a meeting for farm women, we took a tour of the facility and spent some time looking at calf care. Raising healthy “babies” (calves, piglets, etc.) is an area women are often charged with on the farm—and excel at it—with a mothering instinct that translates to animal care instincts.   And there can be plenty of judgment involved.

         “Did you see those calves? I don’t think they’re feeding them right” was the first whisper I heard from one woman as we walked amongst the calves on a sunny day as the birds chirped in the background. “I think they need to be treated – I would give them electrolytes” was the next comment. There were a couple calves that weren’t feeling their best—and the longer we were in the calf area, the more negative comments I heard from the women about poor calf care.  I had to quietly smile as I stood back and watched women, normally very kind and generous, make fairly judgmental statements about what they would be doing to help the calves.

         You see, each woman there takes calf care very personally. When our animals are sick, we are in distress. All the momma bear tendencies show up. Not because we are profit-driven, but because having healthy calves, piglets, or chicks is personal.  And we want to use the tools we know will treat sickness, which includes antibiotics. Keeping those babies healthy is important!

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         How would you feel about seeing a dirty kid eating candy off the ground?  Disgust? Judgment in parenting? Would you cast the same judgment on a mother who took her child to the doctor for antibiotics? It’s all about personal choice—and being responsive to changing conditions.

         Likewise, doing what is right for our animals is personal. As a mom— and a caretaker of farm animals—I am concerned about the opportunity to have my children and animals treated when they are sick.

Read
more at   Food Truths to Farm to Table  and take a trip around the grocery store to be
armed with 25 truths you urgently need to know about food so you can shop
without guilt, confusion, or judgment. Learn the truths so you can recognize
marketing and move on. A new book, Food Bullying, is expected late 2019.