While I realize I'm not seeing a representative slice of the pop'n up here near Aspen, the state of America's children is none-the-less giving me some serious qualms about our future as a species. I can't tell you how many children are terrified of mud and manure. Since when do kids care about getting their shoes dirty?? On Saturday I was helping a 4 year old girl wash her hands and told her we were trying to save the trees by not using paper towels, and she started cry-screaming because her hands were intolerably wet. WTF? Luckily she wasn't tall enough to reach the paper towels herself, though she did take some leaps at it (not headed for the NBA, this one). She eventually recovered when her tiny little brain was distracted by the shrieking of her horrid compatriots as they detected incoming cake. Turns out I really can't stand entitled Aspen children, especially if they come for their farm-themed birthday party in sparkley sandels and frilly frocks.
On top of this rampant germaphobia, most of our young visitors also seem to suffer from a complete inability to work. I kid you not, it took three 12 year olds ten minutes to move one bale of straw (not hay, this is less than 50lbs) into the goat pen, and the whining was epic. When (I would say "if," but I'm pretty commited to the peak oil theory) the economy changes and cushy jobs are few and far between, our society may very well be fracked. Where are the kids who want to fall in creeks, would give their right leg for the chance to pet a cute animal, and can happily muck some shit-filled stalls?
I AM Daring Greatly
12 years ago
4 comments:
Where are the kids that want to get dirty? Good question. Obviously they aren't coming from entitled, rich Aspen homes.
O dear. I'm afraid I would flunk out on all counts in the muck 'n' mud category(not that I would've refused to dry my hands on MY frilly frock, thank you muchly.) My one camping experience involved backing up my old car, Irma, as close as possible to the campsite. Why? so I could access the trunk full of canned goods, homemade bread and extra pots 'n' pans.
I suspect we should send our 15 year old your way. He can now poop in a hole, pack up the mess, and light a fire using cedar shavings, a bow drill and 2 rocks. When I saw him in late June he had an amazing collection of dirt behind his ears -- probably many more microbes than you've got crawling around in your pigpen...
Maybe your farm could be a stopover for those kids to show off their skills before they head back to school,
Hugs,
Aunt N
today I had this really cool 11 yr old helping me out while she waited for her parents to pick her up. she said she really wanted to run her own ranch just like this one some day and was delighted to help me with anything. even had some decent strength to help me move chicken tractors and didn't complain about the stink or getting her shoes muddy :) admittedly, she wasn't from aspen. great kid though!
...she also told me she thought i was cool and knew how to do everything, so the flattery may have won me over ;)
Post a Comment