Moms address some misconceptions about motherhood share memories of their own mothers
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
As Mother’s Day is this Sunday (don’t forget!), Farms.com connected with farm moms from Ontario’s ag community to discuss the feeling of holding a newborn for the first time and other topics related to motherhood.
Samantha Spruit (SS) and her husband Rudi operate a dairy farm in Bruce County. The couple have one son, Hendrick, who turns two later this month. They’re also preparing to welcome another child in August.
Kaitlan Van Wely (KVW) and is a mom of four with her husband Gerrit: Emerson (8), Hayden (7), Lydia (5) and Adrianna (3). The family are dairy farmers from Oxford County.
Farms.com: Describe where you were when you found out you were pregnant for the first time. How did it make you feel?
SS: I thought I was pregnant one night and the next day went to Tim Hortons and took another pregnancy test which came back positive. I went back to the farm to tell Rudi and we were both just so excited, blessed and overjoyed.
KVW: I mentioned to Gerrit’s mom I wasn’t feeling well, and she suggested I might be pregnant. Gerrit and I were living in our first house together and that’s where I took the test and found out. We were so excited to be starting a family.
Farms.com: Describe the feeling of holding your newborn for the first time.
SS: It’s such a crazy feeling. I was so full of joy and excitement and then little Hendrick pooped on me.
KVW: It’s almost hard to put into words. Everyone says you’re going to love your kids but you don’t fully understand the joy until you hold your baby.
Samantha and Hendrick Spruit.
Farms.com: What’s the best part about being a farm mom?
SS: Having Hendrick be able to see tractors and skid steers on a daily basis and see his love for that. And watching his love for animals. He loves being in the calf barn with the “baby moos” as he calls them. Rudi’s parents still live on the farm too, so to see the special relationship Hendrick has with his grandparents is just wonderful.
KVW: I’m able to work my schedule around so I can always be with my kids. And I get to show them compassion and how to care for animals.
Farms.com: What’s the hardest part about motherhood?
SS: Feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing. You try your best, but you feel like you’re taking a course with no textbook. When things don’t go well, I just try to remember there’s always tomorrow to try again.
KVW: Always trying to do the right thing for your kids.
Farms.com: What’s a misconception people have about motherhood?
SS: That it’s going to be super easy every day. I found when I was pregnant with Hendrick everyone is obsessed with your belly but then baby gets here and it’s a lot of hard work and long days.
KVW: You think you’re a good parent before you actually become a parent. You think you have all the answers and then once you have children, your ideas about what you thought you were going to do go out the window because each child is different.
Farms.com: What’s your mom’s name? What are some special memories you have with her?
SS: My mom’s name is Cindy. She’s a really good cook so I love being in the kitchen with her cooking up our favourite meals. And we used to have beach days where she’d take me out of school for one day in June and we’d have a girls’ day.
KVW: My mom’s name is Jane. I come from a family of seven and she always made sure she was there if we needed her. She drove us to all our 4-H events, helped with homework and was always there to talk when we needed it.
Kaitlan and Gerrit Van Wely and their children. From left: Adrianna, Hayden, Lydia and Emerson.
Farms.com: What’s one lesson you learned from your mom you try to teach your kids?
SS: Showing others love, being as kind as you can and using manners.
KVW: To always look out for each other and be there for people.
Farms.com: How has motherhood changed you?
SS: It makes you more selfless. Baby might have kept you up all night, but you still have to get up in the morning and take care of the little one and do whatever else you need to do around the house. Your family comes first and you put yourself lower on the list.
KVW: Completely. Everything I do now is for my kids.
Farms.com: What’s one thing all moms have in common no matter where they are in the world?
SS: We’re all in this together and we all go through similar experiences and phases as our children grow.
KVW: We want the best for our children and want to raise good human beings that live a happy life.
Farms.com: What’s one piece of advice you have for new moms?
SS: I know it’s cliché but enjoy every moment. The days are long but the years are short. Enjoy the baby snuggles, the laundry and the muddy faces because everything goes by so fast.
KVW: Enjoy the little things because time flies by so quickly.