Oh, also, I meant to comment that I read the PD piece, too, and I thought it had one of the very clearest articulations of these problems that I've ever read. It was great analysis and argument.
Prayers for your daughter and all the family. The Helen Rebanks book is fabulous - do read her husband’s books if you haven’t already. I’m a London dwelling woman who has never farmed and I absolutely loved the realistic depiction and heartfelt rallying cry for family, roots, tradition and fighting for what matters in our communities and with the land.
Thank you Elizabeth! I have had her husband's books on my tbr list for what must be years now and for some reason just have never gotten around to them, and for some reason just decided to listen to her book on a whim! But I think this is enough inspiration to continue reading his books this year.
I think what I also loved about reading Helen Rebanks’ book after her husband’s titles was how you get a beautiful sense of their marriage and how they complement each other. It was really enjoyable to make the connections and get a sense of their love story and not in an overly romantic way etc. Neither of them shy away from the hard stuff too - about life, work, marriage, family life etc.
His books are fantastic! I'd love to get to Helen's book. I didn't grow up in any rural or agricultural setting, but my brother and his wife have been living and helping out at her grandfather's dairy farm in Minnesota for the past several years. Visiting is always a good reminder of how gritty, exhausting, and non-idyllic it all is!!
Thanks for sharing my piece! It was fun to write/think about. Prayers for your daughter, and for you - can only imagine how stressful and overwhelming it must be.
I'm so intrigued by the Lake District book - I must go in search!
I need to chat with you about All the Light. I have many feelings about the adaptation.
You & your family will be in my prayers for the upcoming surgery - that sort of event & anticipation really has a lot of gravity that pulls everything else toward it. Much love to you all!
Oh, Christy, I'll be praying for the surgery! ❤️ We've been through some big medical stuff here and I think you're being totally normal in all the ways you feel abnormal (and with the fears and anxiety — kinda hard to shake those when it's your kiddo.) One day at a time is all we can do in times like this. (Well, ever, really.) February will take care of itself. Why plan anyway? Plans always change. ;) xo
I read “Bringing Up Bebe” when I was pregnant with my first (his godmother is a French translator so an American Francophile as a result). As an American, the two parts of the book that fascinated me most were about the crèche system and the amazing food culture, which really inspired me. We have such an unhealthy food culture here - I don’t just mean the over abundance of processed products but also how the idea of sitting down for a meal is now a foreign concept. Both my husband & I come from families who *always* ate together, so it’s certainly central to our family culture. I hate that American kids are basically expected to eat out of pouches until kindergarten, whereas the average French child learns how to eat amazing 3-course meals in preschool. Such a poverty of experience we’ve come to expect.
Omigoodness, yes. The food experience of children in France really stays with you and it did help give me perspective on giving my kids new foods and the expectation that they should try them. I mean, I still don't completely understand the cheese course, so those French kids really have it good!
I didn't know James Rebanks' wife wrote a book too! Definitely going on my list. I absolutely adore his books. I saw recently that Gracy Olmstead interviewed him. I have it saved to read! I love books that don't romanticize things but also are clearly so full of love for a certain way of life, the hard and the beautiful.
Prayers for the surgery and all the aftermath and all the planning around it! Anything medical sends me spiraling. I can't imagine with it involving one of your kids. Hang in there!
We're knee deep in snow here and it's lovely but probably only lovely because most of the time we have very civilized mild winter weather, ha. I think I'd struggle a lot with the sort of relentless cold you have to deal with!
I think I saw that interview as well, and I know his books have been on my tbr for years and I just have never gotten to them for some reason. And I just started listening to hers on a real whim. So I think I should start reading his books after this and just continue on the theme.
Thank you for the prayers!! I saw all the snow down there and it does look lovely! And you get snow days. We very rarely get snow days, we just have to live our normal lives unless it's a full blown blizzard and -50 out. I feel like I'm being ripped off.
Surgery is always nerve-wracking, and that sounds like a big one, so I can only imagine two years worth of vague anticipation finally becoming reality. (Our second child had surgery on his skull at 2 months old and it was just like you describe: anxiety and worry mixed with trying to get the regular daily stuff accomplished!!)
It is really not my favourite at all. Haha, I hate dealing with my emotions and it feels like for the past week everyday something pops up that makes me start crying and I already feel emotionally exhausted.
Oh, also, I meant to comment that I read the PD piece, too, and I thought it had one of the very clearest articulations of these problems that I've ever read. It was great analysis and argument.
I thought that was a great article too!
It was a great piece of writing and thinking.
Prayers for your daughter and all the family. The Helen Rebanks book is fabulous - do read her husband’s books if you haven’t already. I’m a London dwelling woman who has never farmed and I absolutely loved the realistic depiction and heartfelt rallying cry for family, roots, tradition and fighting for what matters in our communities and with the land.
Thank you Elizabeth! I have had her husband's books on my tbr list for what must be years now and for some reason just have never gotten around to them, and for some reason just decided to listen to her book on a whim! But I think this is enough inspiration to continue reading his books this year.
I think what I also loved about reading Helen Rebanks’ book after her husband’s titles was how you get a beautiful sense of their marriage and how they complement each other. It was really enjoyable to make the connections and get a sense of their love story and not in an overly romantic way etc. Neither of them shy away from the hard stuff too - about life, work, marriage, family life etc.
His books are fantastic! I'd love to get to Helen's book. I didn't grow up in any rural or agricultural setting, but my brother and his wife have been living and helping out at her grandfather's dairy farm in Minnesota for the past several years. Visiting is always a good reminder of how gritty, exhausting, and non-idyllic it all is!!
Just wanted to chime in and add my prayers for a smooth and successful surgery, for peace for all of you!
Oh, that you so much Libby!
Thanks for sharing my piece! It was fun to write/think about. Prayers for your daughter, and for you - can only imagine how stressful and overwhelming it must be.
Thanks Gina, I appreciate it!
I'm so intrigued by the Lake District book - I must go in search!
I need to chat with you about All the Light. I have many feelings about the adaptation.
You & your family will be in my prayers for the upcoming surgery - that sort of event & anticipation really has a lot of gravity that pulls everything else toward it. Much love to you all!
Thank you so much, Kristin! I hope I one day finish the series and we can talk! I hope it doesn't take me six more months.
Oh, Christy, I'll be praying for the surgery! ❤️ We've been through some big medical stuff here and I think you're being totally normal in all the ways you feel abnormal (and with the fears and anxiety — kinda hard to shake those when it's your kiddo.) One day at a time is all we can do in times like this. (Well, ever, really.) February will take care of itself. Why plan anyway? Plans always change. ;) xo
Oh, thank you Karen, I really appreciate it. The struggle of one day at a time is real!
I read “Bringing Up Bebe” when I was pregnant with my first (his godmother is a French translator so an American Francophile as a result). As an American, the two parts of the book that fascinated me most were about the crèche system and the amazing food culture, which really inspired me. We have such an unhealthy food culture here - I don’t just mean the over abundance of processed products but also how the idea of sitting down for a meal is now a foreign concept. Both my husband & I come from families who *always* ate together, so it’s certainly central to our family culture. I hate that American kids are basically expected to eat out of pouches until kindergarten, whereas the average French child learns how to eat amazing 3-course meals in preschool. Such a poverty of experience we’ve come to expect.
Omigoodness, yes. The food experience of children in France really stays with you and it did help give me perspective on giving my kids new foods and the expectation that they should try them. I mean, I still don't completely understand the cheese course, so those French kids really have it good!
I didn't know James Rebanks' wife wrote a book too! Definitely going on my list. I absolutely adore his books. I saw recently that Gracy Olmstead interviewed him. I have it saved to read! I love books that don't romanticize things but also are clearly so full of love for a certain way of life, the hard and the beautiful.
Prayers for the surgery and all the aftermath and all the planning around it! Anything medical sends me spiraling. I can't imagine with it involving one of your kids. Hang in there!
We're knee deep in snow here and it's lovely but probably only lovely because most of the time we have very civilized mild winter weather, ha. I think I'd struggle a lot with the sort of relentless cold you have to deal with!
I think I saw that interview as well, and I know his books have been on my tbr for years and I just have never gotten to them for some reason. And I just started listening to hers on a real whim. So I think I should start reading his books after this and just continue on the theme.
Thank you for the prayers!! I saw all the snow down there and it does look lovely! And you get snow days. We very rarely get snow days, we just have to live our normal lives unless it's a full blown blizzard and -50 out. I feel like I'm being ripped off.
I'll be praying for your daughter and for peace for you.
Thank you Dixie!
Surgery is always nerve-wracking, and that sounds like a big one, so I can only imagine two years worth of vague anticipation finally becoming reality. (Our second child had surgery on his skull at 2 months old and it was just like you describe: anxiety and worry mixed with trying to get the regular daily stuff accomplished!!)
It is really not my favourite at all. Haha, I hate dealing with my emotions and it feels like for the past week everyday something pops up that makes me start crying and I already feel emotionally exhausted.