Crisp fall days means weaning time

Five teenagers in a house makes for a wild and crazy time (as Steve Martin used to say). We have four kids in high school, and one in college. Last year we loaded up all kinds of things that never used to be a pre-requisite for college, including a microwave and refrigerator. I remember when I moved into the dorms, you were allowed a popcorn popper! So where am I going with this and how am I going to relate this to weaning calves? I can relate it back to my topic in two ways, actually.

First, the college student met us at the Kansas  Angus Tour on Saturday and asked if we were doing any cattle work the next day as she needed her "cow-fix!" It just so happened that we had weaning 100 bull calves on the agenda and boostering their vaccinations and weighing them. So she decided to come home to help with the work. We loaded up fairly early in the morning and as we got ready to head out to gather cows and calves, we took a quick moment for a family picture at the tailgate of the truck. Of course, the college student was running the camera with the self timer, and somehow she ended up in the middle of the final picture, and I was cut off. So even when I'm NOT running the camera, I am not in the picture!

Anyway, with the picture taken and last minute instructions given, we headed out to gather, sort and haul the 8 month old bull calves home. This is the second way I can relate my situation back to my topic. As we sorted the cows out of the pen, leaving only the calves in the pen, the calves called to their moms and the mama cows walked calmly away. We loaded the calves into the trailers to haul them home and gradually the cows made their way across the pasture looking for green grass. They were very unconcerned about their calves heading out to a new life! They had done their best--given all they had for their calves and now it was the baby's turn to step up and grow up!

A part of me felt that way when we started to drive away from the dormitory parking lot as our college student waved from the steps. I was ready for her to make her own way and "do her thing!" But just like those cows who eventually returned to the pen, wondering where their calves were that evening, I miss my girl and often wish she were back home. But I know that it is her turn to shine and she must grow--independently from her parents.