Childcare: Motherhood and Farming

May 10, 2018 / audra mulkern

This special Mother's Day episode focuses on childcare and how it influences decisions on farm business, division of labor for farm and home, productivity and the stress of the social and financial implications.

The image that sparked this conversation. Courtesy of Allyson of Full Heart Farm

Your Hosts

Audra Mulkern, Host and Executive Producer

Kate Doughty, Host, and Producer

GUESTS

“My kids go to daycare. I work part-time on the farm and part-time off so it’s a necessity. It’s also for safety and everyone’s well-being. I love the farm life, I love my kids are growing up on the farm but there’s a time and place for them to be involved. Daycare has done so much for their exposure to the world, kindness and compassion and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I was honestly made to feel guilty for the longest time about daycare and the Mommy Wars. I’ve just decided we as farmers are running professional businesses here and no one else takes their kids to their job so we shouldn’t be forced into it either. And also my husband is a true partner. He’s with the kids as much as me, takes on a lot of household duties as well. We’re a team in all aspects no matter how busy the farm is.”

— Angela Tauer

“ My 3-year-old packs the eggs after I wash them while the 11-month-old plays or sleeps in a pack-n-play or stroller. They sit outside our hen houses while I gather eggs, in clear sight always. They travel with me in the mornings while I make my deliveries to our restaurant clients. The reason I am a farmer is to be able to be with and raise my kids while also making an income for our home, as my hubs is a full-time farmer as well.”

— Timi Bauscher

Shoshanah Inwood is rural sociologist and an assistant professor in SENR. She holds degrees in rural sociology, environmental science and biology. Her career has focused on the intersection of agriculture, environment, and society in the context of community and economic development. Shoshanah has maintained a dual focus studying both the role of communities in food system development and the socio-cultural household level processes that underlay the American food and agriculture system. Her research and outreach program centers on three themes: 1) Community based economic development through food and agriculture 2) Social and community factors affecting farm growth and development, and; 3) The persistence of agriculture at the rural-urban interface. She approaches these questions through a sociological lens and utilize a mixed methods approach integrating qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis techniques.