What's Tough?

What’s Tough?

I have long debated the toughest careers.  Growing up, I thought those in medicine were meant to be idolized for their knowledge and years spent in school.  Then my doctor missed the birth of my son.  Raising two kids 18 months apart, having two in diapers, two inarticulate, and two in carseats I thought surely was the toughest.  Then I had three... and a job.  So, I turned my sights on my co-workers these last few years, acknowledging them for their dedication to students that underachieve, giving up our lunches, family time, and personal lives to help find ways to make them successful.  I know our administrators spend many hours reaching out to them and dealing with politics.  I admire their drive to do what’s right even if it isn’t popular.  Then again, it is secure; we will always need teachers.  My husband’s round the clock schedule, travel, yearly budgeting, and entrepreneurship weighs heavily on him to run our farm & ranch and compete as a rodeo cowboy might trump all that.  All of that while being smart enough not to get hurt at any of it (like avoiding our mean Bramer, #1!).  Yet, that still isn’t the toughest.  

A Tough Schedule

Today began with a 5 am wake up call.  Since my husband was out of town, my daughter slept beside me; meanwhile, her brother fussed every hour on the hour since midnight.  Pressed sleep three times.  Shower- yes.  Shave legs- no.  Squeeze into something presentable for tonight; we meet with parents.  Nurse baby once more before leaving.  8 am- Pump upon arrival.  Regular day with eight classes, bouncing between one hybrid course of Senior English and College Composition.  Go over grades.  Try desperately to post and print.  Computer glitch.  Do it manually.  Eat lunch while walking back from lunchtime pumping.  Survive 30 middle school students’ BO.  Fluff hair, no time to check mirror.  Off to Parent Teacher Conferences.  

The theme of the evening was this: “Your child is friendly, polite, and more than capable BUT work ethic is lacking tremendously.”

The Toughest Job

The toughest job in the world has nothing to do with the job itself, it has to do with the work ethic one puts towards it.  My job, and I’m tempted to put this on my tax forms this year is, “Multi Hat-Wearer.”  Mother and wife always, teacher often, and rancher as needed.  Tonight it was needed.  

We are preparing for somewhere in the 8”-15” range for snow the day after tomorrow, so even though I’m a little tuckered out, a lot tuckered out, off came the cardigan and on went the coveralls.  My trusty steed, The Farm ‘Hoe, and I went out to check the 200 acres and 85 cows at 10 pm.  With a storm on the way, I was expecting calves had dropped during the day.  I was feeling much like one of the students we’d been admonishing all night, “You work is right in front of you.  You have allocated time during the day to do it.  You have the skills, now get it done!”  My husband had even played disappointed mentor this morning as I’d forgotten the tag bag and had a calf just sleeping that I could have done.  Irresponsible!  

Back on Top

Alas, as I sit here to pump one last time, I sent him the last text of the night:  One left to tag. Got 1 heifer and made three bulls into steers- back to Head Vaquera at the Next Summer Ranch.   

Oh, and that #1 Bramer- she's pretty tough too.