I haven't blogged in awhile. Evangeline however continues to be funny and a multitude of facebook posts can attest to that. We have been busy busy busy! This is the last week of school for the older girls and summer is about to hit us full force.
So I have been going down and helping out with Aunt Chris' Discovery Center on her LARGE field trips. I have to tell you how amazing this is, I love children! They are by nature curious little things, that love to explore the world and people around them. Even if they come into a place or area that may scare them because its unfamiliar to them. Their excitement (most of the time) brings a smile to my face even if they are competing with animals for the loudest noises.
Yesterday several of these kids came down into the barn and there was at least one or two who were so scared they were crying. My heart went out to these little darlings. Evangeline was delivered to me by Adam as we were getting ready to take the last group down stairs. She was nervous of the kids, she's never seen the barn so full! When we got down stairs she immediately wanted to hold a chick. I however made her listen to what a MAMMAL is and after the kids got their burdock leaves to feed the animals, Evangeline didn't want one, I took her down to get a chick.
At first I really didn't want her to hold one because, the kids had been asking all day to hold them and I told them no, but there was one little girl who had been truly frightened and was really crying, so I gave Evangeline a chick, sat her on a bale of hay and got myself a chick. The kids feed those animals fast! And soon they were crowding the rooster, Leanne was holding and crowding the hen coop. That little girl came down with her teacher and spotted Evangeline sitting quietly holding the baby chick. She went over, her tears dried, and reached out one small hand and actually touched the chick! Lots of kids get over their fear by touching the chicks and then they are running back toward the other animals ready to touch each one! Evangeline just sat there and smiled at her.
Pretty soon Evangeline had a small crowd of kids around her. She was talking to them, letting them touch her chick, telling them not to touch the other chicks, not to try to touch the loose roosters, when too many little hands were reaching she would take her spare hand and hold it out, telling them with some sass "Too many" and forcing them back. "One." She said. The baby chick just settled down in her lap and arm and was completely comfortable, enough to close it's eyes, stop cheeping and appeared calm, relaxed.
Many of the kids came and asked why she got to hold a chick and I had to explain that she has been holding chicks for a very long time. That Evangeline is very used to holding and touching the farm animals, she loves the barn and the farm. The kids seemed okay with this explanation and one whispered to me that they wished they had farm too.
I wish that I had a free hand to snap a quick picture. It was amazing to see how she handled it, how she became a little teacher, how she helped kids get over a real fear of the unknown. We do realize how lucky we are to live out here, to have the chance to expose our children to this life, but we often forget that not everyone is as blessed as we are.
I would rather my kids grow up with the so called "country folk" stigma than have them live some place where they would never be exposed to it.
Evangeline, every time she heads to the farm, either with Daddy for the tractor, or to Kimmie's house, or the Discovery Center cheers "Yay a party on the farm!" And you know what? I silently cheer right along with her!
