I don’t cry very easily, but this morning I had to go to my room and bawl for just a few minutes.
My turkey drowned in the neighbor’s watering tank. I know I will look back on this and laugh, eventually, but right now I’m just so sad.
I’ve been dealing with teenagers all week that stare at me like a deer caught in the headlights when I ask them to hand in their fundraising packets. One of them expressed how “GAY” he thought the party is that I’ve worked on for, oh, let’s see, six months. I’m happy to report that after a few words that same boy was apologizing to me and giving me a hug…lucky he’s still alive.
And really, everything in my job has been a lot of fun and I’m excited to see so much generosity playing out for this school, but I’m in the final stretch and the stress might be bubbling to the surface just a tiny bit which I knew would happen and I’m not at all surprised that my emotions are overly charged.
Yesterday, I dropped my kids off at home with instructions to carry all laundry down, sort it and get it started. You know where this is going, don’t you? I headed back to town to run more errands for my job. I called to check on the kids’ progress, “Yeah, yeah we’re doing it Mom…blah, blah, blah.”
No laundry was done. But, my two little boys did manage to put all the clean laundry laying on their dresser into their dirty clothes hamper, so nice of them.
I didn’t know the task hadn’t been done until I walked upstairs to go to bed and saw all the hampers full to the brim. If words could explain my anger this blog would be toxic.
I got up at 5:30 this morning, and we all know that I am NOT a morning person, right? Guess what I was doing? Yep, carting and sorting the laundry and smelling every article of clothing in my little boys’ hamper to determine if it was clean or dirty and you don’t want to know how many pairs of dirty underwear I stuck my nose in before I decided to just wash all of it.
So, I’m already mad as Hell at my kids and I’m working out in head various methods of torture that I will perform on them when Virginia, my sweet neighbor, calls Clay over to come look in her watering tank.
I was flipping French Toast when Clay came through the door to tell me about our turkey and that was the end of me. I couldn’t hold back the tears.
We’ve had a lot of animals perish since we’ve started this little farming habit of ours. It’s never fun to find a dead animal. It used to shock me, but after burying cats and chickens and another turkey I’ve grown a bit used to animals meeting their demise on the farm.
This turkey was going to be our Thanksgiving bird, maybe. I loved listening to her chirping and she was so gentle and docile that both Clay and I weren’t sure if we had the heart to butcher her.
Yesterday, I was in a hurry to get to school so I fed the animals and let all my chickens out to graze. We have one natural source they can go to for water and a water trough in their pen. I figured I’d let them go to the water source and I didn’t fill their trough. So, in a huge way, I feel responsible for her jumping into the water tank. If I’d filled the trough would she have done that? Probably. Turkeys aren’t very smart and they are terribly clumsy. We’ve saved them from getting caught in silly situations several times and they were so lucky we found them. Oh, the guilt of a farmer when a good animal’s death could have been prevented. I feel horrible. Even more horrible than I probably would if I didn’t have the stress of poop-stain children weighing on me.
So, there you have it. My kids are turkeys, the teens at school are turkeys and my turkey is dead RIP sweet Gobble Girl.
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Maybe the turkey knew her possible fate in a few weeks and decided well ….she would rather….
Have a better rest of the day!
Ugh, I’m sorry to hear all that. Poor turkey.
I would have sneaked up on the kids and dumped all the dirty laundry on them while they were sleeping. Well, actually, something tells me that wouldn’t have bothered them!
Stay strong!
((((April))))
Oh April, what a day for you! You didn’t happen to have a dose of pms mixed in with that did you? That would even be more terrible for you. Usually stuff like this happens to me when I’m suffering from that horrible woman thing!
Oh I am so sorry for the loss of your turkey – sounds like you have been having a lot of stress. Laundry – it is just horrible isn’t it? My son always does the “clean clothes into the laundry toss” and it drives me insane. My daughter and I had locked horns a couple of weeks ago – she was furious that her gym clothes were not clean – she still had time to wash them – and I calmly told her that she would have to wash them herself if she didn’t like my time table. She threw back a haughty ” I shouldn’t HAVE to! I’m not the one HOME ALL DAY!” Now, my daughter is pretty good kid – does have her middle school moments though – that was pretty snotty of her. I had to lock myself in the room to keep from strangling her! And I had a really good cry – I have been looking for a job for quite a while. Then I realized I was depriving her of a very valuable life skill. She knows how to do laundry, but I just do it because I am home. She is now in charge of all aspects of her own laundry. 2 weeks and no more fussing in the morning about not having the clothes she wants. I think my son needs to be put on the program too. I’m just afraid with him the smell might become unbearable – no mom they’re clean – REALLY!
Been there, done that. I hate when the kids (or the husband) doesn’t at least try to comply with a request. Especially when they can’t help but notice how stretched and stressed I am. Don’t they realize we’re doing all this extra stuff FOR THEM!
Looking back, I realize that a deep breath (or a day or two to cool down) and a rational discussion would have been the way to go. Instead I usually just mummble and sigh heavily while I suffer through. They’re not so good at catching those clues either. Go figure!
She jumped in to save her neck! So sorry. I know it is upsetting but the story was funny.
Aw damn, sorry about Gobble girl.
You know what I do to cheer myself up? First, I watched your funny dancing videos and then I run to Youtube and look up baby giggling, or baby laughing and it gets me laughing instantly. I highly recommend it. That and cute cat videos, but I wasn’t sure if you’d be up to see other animals at the moment.
Good luck with the laundry thing, I do like the idea of dumping it on their heads in their sleep, especially the older 2.
So sorry to hear about your turkey. On the subject of laundry i so feel you pain. I don’t mind doing it I just really hate having to fold and put it away.
Farming looks idyllic only in pictures. Reality is completely different.
You’re much nicer than I… those boys would have been up at 5:30am doing what they were told to do in the first place. Not just I.
I’m sorry about all the turkeys, April. Is it heartless of me to ask if you could at least still butcher the turkey? The one that drowned, I mean. Although you could threaten to serve up the next mouthy kid for Thanksgiving dinner. That’s probably what I would do, but I don’t think it’s what Jesus would do. Dang, I always screw that up.
I agree with farmwifetwo also. Never would have done the laundry. I’d be waiting for them all week. I’m stubborn like that. Then again that might be why I don’t have kids.
I have an idea though. take a moment and stop to look at your “Mister” post. that should make you smile.
I think your 2 oldest are old enough to do their own laundry. If they don’t do it they don’t have clean clothes, it’s their own problem. Don’t let them sneak it in yours either. My 12 year old does her own. Anything of hers I find in my basket gets thrown back in her room on the floor. She can sort out what’s clean and what isn’t; sniff her own panties thank you.
It sounds like you may need some chocolate & a good dose of Hugh Jackman to cheer you up a little bit. Try to remember that it can always get worse. IE: finding the dead turkey in the unclean laundry for instance. Life sounds better already doesn’t it? Try to have a good day!!!
Oh April I’ve had many of those days. I don’t have that type anymore because now my kids are grown but I can sympathize. Cheer up – get yourself another turkey – you’ll soon feel better.
Can so relate to the mix of emotions over animals who are a food source yet widdle a way into your heart. It’s as though you want to be the one to determine their fate – not for it to happen outside of your decision.
Sorry you have had a “Mommy on the Edge” kind of week – it must be in the air, I have been on the edge all week as well.
Hope things start to feel all better for you…SOON.
Your poor turkey. But look at it this way YOU wont have to slaughter her now. So no more debate about that.
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theprovidentwoman.com
Awwww, sweet April, I don’t see how you do all that you do in the first place. I will NOT give you any advice, though, on kids and laundry etc. ’cause I always did it all thinking it was just easier. Of course, I only had one! I always wondered though if she’d grow up to be lazy, and she didn’t. WHEW!!
I’m so sorry about the turkey,and can see why you cried. I hope you’re feeling better today. ((hugs))
Oh how I feel your pain through this all. I would have broke down too especially knowing I had to make other plans for Thanksgiving dinner. I’m just kidding April. We once had a heifer get into our barn, the side with a bunch of stacked 700 pound round bales and she got stuck, bloated up and died. We found her a day after her demise. Sorrowful, terrible death. We blamed ourselves of course but having a farm full of critters sometimes they get the best of you.
Have yourself a tall glass of wine tonight, put your feet up and watch Gray’s Anatomy. Izzy is back.
Did that take your mind off the turkey debacle?
Yep. The day I found clean, still folded, clothes my daughter tossed in the laundry basket was the day I took her downstairs to teach her to do her own. She was 11 or 12, and I shouldn’t have let it go that far! I folded all the laundry but put hers on the bed for her to put away. Nope. Turned out she just tossed them on the floor, then when I did my call for laundry, she picked it all up and put it in the basket.
So sorry you are having a bad day….(((HUGS)))
Hope things get better soon…
You impress me with the fact that you were cooking french toast. Dang – you rock. I’d have been throwing pop tarts around and calling it a day.
(I’m embarrassed to ask and maybe someone already did – I didn’t read all the comments – but can you still butcher that turkey now? Is that mean to ask?)
Hey April its hard being a Awsome Mom but you are!! your at the bottom of the mountain right now but you will succeed !!
You will overcome! never doubt it.And yes my girls put clean laundry in their laundry baskets too!! I just had to rewash some myself…..
So sorry about the turkey. It’s doubtful that it was your fault. Turkeys are just all “doh-da-doh” stupid.
Laundry! Ah yes. Those little boys. I have two of them too and it’s the same song around here.
I’ve been wanting to cuddle up with the vodka bottle lately too. I’m thinking that it may also be a lack of sunshine and vitamin D. Already.
I’ve taken a walk in the woods the last couple days (alone!) and was amazed at how much better I felt afterwards.
Your turkey commits suicide just weeks before Thanksgiving???
Somehow I do find that funny…in a sort of perverted sence!!
I am sorry for your loss.
Poor turkey.
((April))
In our house, when I have to do a chore for one of the kids, I replace it with two. And I usually make it as nasty as I can, like scrubbing trash cans.
Sorry about the turkey. I had a bad day today and then a bee flew in my car and I cried. I also have PMS, so that might have something to do with it.
Sorry it’s been a tough one.
Well I wish I had some sort of humorous story to tell, but I’ve got nothing right now. I’m sorry the turkey drowned and sorrier that it made you cry. Hang in there.
So sorry dear sweet April. When you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
April – I feel your frustration about the laundry. Look at my blog today if you have time and see what happened when I decided to let my kids do their own laundry. They are 21 and 23 now, and they are still doing it. I think your two oldest kids can do their own.
I am also a turkey-killer. See my post on 12/7/07. I am sorry your turkey had to go that way but they are very stupid. Perhaps she didn’t want to be Thanksgiving dinner…
Chin up – it’ll be okay. ;o)
Really sorry to hear about the loss of your turkey. Especially since it was a nice turkey.
If it makes you feel any better, my kids do the same thing with their clean clothes. Yep, dump them right back into the hamper so they don’t have to go to all that exhausting effort of opening and drawer and stuffing the folded items inside. Whew. So much easier to toss it all back in the basket and let mom wash fourteen more loads! I solved it by making them do ALL of their own clothes. I refuse to wash them. And I refuse to take smelly, stinky kids out in public. They sure don’t want to waste THEIR time re-washing their clothes.
Hugs to you and your dear departed turkey.
Big hugs to you – for the laundry and the turkey. Don’t have any turkeys here (the poultry kind, anyway), but I’ve been through my share of dead pets. As for the laundry – I have two kids. 7 and 5. I know half the clean laundry ends up in the hamper. Or under the beds. It’s an uphill battle.
More hugs for you.
So sorry about your turkey (the actual one), and good luck finding a way to deal with the rest of the live turkeys in your life. Maybe you could make the turkeys who didn’t do the laundry go stand in the water tank for a while…
Oh, so sorry about your turkey. There is a nice sense of denial when we buy ours from the grocery store. It’s never personal.
But I have to laugh…why did it take multiple times of smelling the unders? Once would be enough for me!
Kudos to you for keeping cool on the way to bed. I would have woken them up and made them tote it downstairs. I’m horrible.;)
First, so sorry about your suicidal turkey. I’m glad you were able to get a good cry out of the whole thing. Second, (warning: unsolicited advice) I would have woken the kids at 5 and stood over them while they sorted the laundry. It’s true. You can take a peek at my blog and see how young my oldest is and he’ll vouch for my cruel behavior. BUT… You probably have kids who adore you and will sit around the dining table in 15 years and talk about how nurturing you are. Mine will sit around and trade crazy mom stories.
p.s. I love your stories. You are brilliantly funny even when you’re (presumably) not trying all that hard.
Ugh, I hear you, honey! (Or should that be, I read you? Anyways.) Today has been kind of like that for me, too. Oy. Sympathies are extended, and thank you for making me smile with your post. Here’s hoping it all gets better from here!!
Whoa, I only WISH my mom had done my laundry! She was a single working mom, and by the time I was about 8 she made it clear that if I didn’t wash it, it didn’t get washed, end of story.
Feel free to tell your kids I said they don’t know how great they have it!
Maybe she knew her fate and was resigned to the fact, and so she tried to be helpful but died in a tragic self-brining accident? Was there a salt lick and a patch of sage nearby?
Oh no April, Sucky day. Sucky, sucky day.
I am wondering though, how do you get your kids to put laundry (dirty or otherwise) into a hamper? Surely you tease? Not a real laundry hamper?! You must mean the bedroom floor? or perhaps the floor of the bathroom? living room? car?
The day is fast approaching when you will see my kids naked on the school bus, because mama has officially boycotted picking up dirty laundry! Feel free to join me!
I feel your pain. Well the laundry pain anyway.
Many years ago when my 20-somethings were in middle school I went to our basement to finish the laundry (the day after they cleaned their rooms)….and found perfectly FOLDED clothes I had just washed — in the basket below the clothes shoot. Yes, they had taken their clean, folded clothes and put them in the clothes shoot. Easier than putting in drawers I suppose?
THAT was the day I stopped doing their laundry — forever.
Best decision I ever made!
Hang in there!
you are wonderful-sorry about the ickiness of late. BTW-can you tell your sister to stop being a bitch?
So sorry. I had to put down a foster dog I had for 2 months. He had a bite record before came to me and was a nasty boy at my house. It still breaks the heart. keep loving animals.
So sorry to hear about your sweet turkey. I know how hard it can be too lose someone you love. Good luck at school!
so sorry about your Turkey Lurkey…And the laundry thing…UGH…my pet peeve with my boys when they were younger..Their habit was to try on things..and if they didn’t
“feel right” to throw them in the hamper (IE bedroom floor) instead of re-hanging them..UGH…I am happy to say they both were cured of this little pet peeve when they went away to college..and had to start washing their OWN laundry…when they are staying with me though..it magically reappears…cause…MOM does their laundry cause I am so happy they are home..that I will wash their streaked boxers…
Light some candles..sit in the tub…eat a turkey sandwich…relax at least for one whole hour before you get so overwhelmed you cannot enjoy the fruits of your labor..BELIEVE me…all of the “work” will still be there when you are relaxed and pruney…prunny…wrinkled!
Yucky Day! I am sorry about all those turkeys. A good piece of chocolate always helps me. Praying for you.
You are a better mom than me. I would have had their poop-stained butts up at 5 am doing laundry. They also would not have gotten french toast. Gruel would have been breakfast.
Also and too does this mean that Gobble Girl was suicidal? Did she leave a note? What did it say?
I can’t take it anymore. The pressure of my upcoming debut is too much and I’m going to end it all. Just know I loved each and everyone of you. Forgive me but I just can’t make Thanksgiving dinner.
Goodbye Cruel World
Gobble Girl
I laughed and cried at the same time because I KNOW THIS STORY! Thank you for suffering so that I know that I am not alone-I have four stinky kiddos that like to just through their clothes back into the hamper instead of putting them away. I am back in school as a full time student trying to wrap up the semester AND celebrate 2 kids birthdays, 1 anniversary…oh and then some holidays coming up-huh?
Last night I sent my husband out in the dark, cold night to feed, water and gather the eggs from our chickens because…we just didn’t get to it before then.
Just hold on! You are an amazing mom, wife and woman! You can do it.
Aw, I would have cried too. And you’re not alone on the laundry … sad, but true.
Years ago I had the same thing happen to a turkey. She wasn’t in search of water, she just thought she was flying up onto a higher surface, not knowing there was water there. My granddaughter, aged 3 at the time, came to the house and said, “Grandma, the turkey is swimming.”
I dashed out there, but it was too late.