She Needs to Fold the Laundry
For busy moms, busy folks, everywhere:
She needs to fold the laundry.
After her 9 to 5, that’s when she is going to get it done. As she pulls in the drive she notices the sheep aren’t in the pasture. Her farmer hollers to her from the barn. He has the flock in the pens ready to vaccinate and wean. She goes in the house. Hurries to change her clothes. Glances at the laundry on her way out the door.
She needs to fold the laundry.
Her farm kid has a little league game today. Home from work. Feed the livestock. Feed the kids. On the road to the ball field. They arrive with seconds to spare. Another parent points out the smear of manure on her hoodie. Oh, well. Back home she adds the soiled shirt the hamper and, even though she tries not to, notices the growing pile of clean clothes in the corner.
She needs to fold the laundry.
The weekend seems like a perfect time to get it done. She’ll fold it and maybe even put it away. Yet the tractor breaks down. She’s just going to make a quick run to town for the part. While the farmer fixes that tractor she hops on the other one just so they don’t get behind. The job is finally done. It’s dark. As she washes away the grease and dirt of the day she realizes she still hasn’t folded the laundry.
She needs to fold the laundry.
She could do it now. The kids are in bed. The house is quiet. The farm is buttoned up for the night. Her farmer, worn out from the day but satisfied by all they accomplished, motions for her to come sit beside him. She does. As she snuggles into him she knows this is where she wants to be. Still,
She needs to fold the laundry.
She chuckles at the article about organization that tells her she should wash, dry and fold all at the same time. She’s washed four loads today running in the house between her various farm tasks and duties. Switching clothes from the washer to the dryer or clothesline. And then running back out again. Then there’s that load she had to wash twice because she never got around to drying them the first time.
She needs to fold the laundry.
The kids have a livestock show today. So much action. So much fun. Time with friends and joking in the barn. Awards and pictures at the backdrop. Afterward, as she adds the kid’s show day jeans to the washing machine, pockets filled with pine shavings. Her eyes can’t avoid the clean laundry pile. She’s lost count of how many baskets full there are to fold. How many loads from the dryer she’s added to the top of the pile.
She needs to fold the laundry.
The rain finally stopped so the fertilizer truck is coming today. Or they’re going to help their neighbor start planting. Or the hay crew is here. Or the heifer needs help calving. Or the sheep are out. Or the vegetables are ready to pick. Or she’s got hay to haul. Or the watering troughs are all iced. Or the fence needs fixing. Or it’s time to butcher the hogs…
She needs to fold the laundry.
She’s busy farming with her family. Caring for the animals that rely on her. Taking care of the land of which she’s been entrusted. Living her farm life. Loving it.
She needs to fold the laundry.
It’s not going to happen today. Probably not even tomorrow. It will get done… eventually. For now, her little brood will pilfer from baskets. The kids don’t care. The farmer will wisely keep his mouth shut. He is, after all, the one who brought in the sheep.
