Saying Goodbye

It’s one of those hard lessons you hate to have to see your kids learn, and yet it’s not one that can be avoided when you raise animals.

We had to say goodbye to Jasper today. The first baby born on our little farm (aside from chickens) that just couldn't stay forever.

The girls knew we weren’t keeping him. We don’t need a bunch of little wethers running around. We keep animals that have a purpose (mostly) and castrated little boy goats running around don’t serve any real purpose aside from general entertainment. We have plenty of entertainment around here, entertainment that doesn’t jump fences to eat apple trees.

I honestly thought we were pretty lucky. The family that bought him wanted a little pet goat to keep their other little pet goat company. They brought a bag of animal crackers and banana chips for him and cuddled him and exclaimed over his cuteness. And they had a ten year old son. Jasper was particularly fond of ten year olds. He’s going to live on a farm where he can run free and eat weeds to his heart’s content. There couldn’t possibly be a better life for a goat… especially considering most wethers are sold for meat.

But all of that didn’t make it any easier. Littlest One collapsed into a sobbing mess in my arms before they had pulled out of the driveway. The Oldest disappeared, only to be found later up in a tree, hiding and sulking. Two hours later, she still hadn’t spoken, nor had Littlest One’s tears subsided. In fact, what were at first silent tears became full-blown wailing for awhile.

Seriously, the level of drama in this house over the past few hours could have put my girls in the running for Academy Awards.

I sincerely hope they feel better – and calmer – after a good night’s sleep. And I hope that the more animals we sell, the easier this gets.