Raising Hardworking Kids | Jill Winger of The Prairie Homestead

I don’t often discuss parenting on this podcast, but when I read Jill Winger’s blog post on how she gets her kids involved on her homestead, I knew I had to bring her on to talk about this topic. Jill began homesteading before she became a mother, so her three children have always known this way of life. Jill and I discuss how we accomplish homesteading tasks with babies and toddlers underfoot, how we begin getting our children involved around the homestead, and why it’s important to give our children the gift of hard work. If you want to instill the values of hard work and creativity into your children, may this episode give you inspiration along the way.
In this episode, we cover:
An old-fashioned philosophy of parenting
How kids of different ages can help around a homestead
Instilling a strong work ethic in your children
How homeschooling can build character
Making space for kids to explore their passions
The advantage of letting our kids experience failure
How we approach chores
Click here to listen to part one of this conversation on Jill's podcast: podcasts.apple...
Or watch on KZbin: • S8 E5: Down and Dirty ...
GUEST BIOGRAPHY
Jill is the founder of The Prairie Homestead, an online space with over one million monthly visits dedicated to helping people learn how to grow their own food and opt-out of the rat race, regardless of where they live. In 2019, she published her best-selling cookbook The Prairie Homestead Cookbook which was an Amazon Editor’s pick and won Best Cookbook in the 30th Annual Reading the West Book Awards given by the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association.
Her practical and authentic style of teaching and storytelling has won the hearts of hundreds of thousands of homesteaders across social media and through the Old Fashioned on Purpose podcast, which has amassed over 3.3 million downloads since its inception.
Jill has been featured in Urban Farm, Farm & Ranch Living, COWGIRL magazine, Woman’s Day, HuffPost, the Wall Street Journal, Wyoming PBS, People, and Buzzfeed. She resides on the Wyoming prairie with her husband, three children, and more farm animals than she can count.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto: www.goodreads....
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto: www.goodreads....
The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment: / the-call-of-the-wild-a...
Free to Learn by Peter Gray: www.goodreads....
CONNECT
Jill Winger of The Prairie Homestead
Website: www.theprairie...
Instagram: / jill.winger
KZbin: / theprairiehomestead
Facebook: / theprairiehomestead
Pinterest: / theprairiehome
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone
Blog: www.farmhouseo...
KZbin: / farmhouseonboone
Instagram: / farmhouseonboone
GET MORE FROM THIS EPISODE
Listen to this podcast episode: anchor.fm/simp...
View full show notes and transcript on the blog: simplefarmhous...
MORE RESOURCES
Want to start your own blog? Get my FREE blogging success masterclass: www.farmhouseo...
Get your Berkey Filter with the Simple Farmhouse Life podcast discount: www.berkeyfilt...
Watch my Berkey review video: • Do we like our Berkey ...
Download my updated ebook with ALL of my sourdough recipes: withered-breez...

[@pia9343]

My husband told me 22 years ago, if you do the ages 0-7 “right”, you have nothing to worry about later. Our boys are now 23 and 25 very well rounded healthy young men, he was so right!

[@omowhanre]

Coming from West Africa, this conversation is super interesting that these topics are even conversations. For most people it is life. Children ARE important parts of the family and go with their parents everywhere and understand that no, you’re not the center of the universe but you are so loved and important.

[@MrsKeane25]

The Western society values teens and 20s (I'd go as far as to say, worships them). Then the rest is adult time and children have to be managed to fit into the adults timetable. They work extra hours to afford childcare and after school activities because children are an inconvenience to the adult lifestyle and are set in a course to be the next beat adults instead of valuing them as children. It's all based around consumerism and materialism. You can see by western laws that the traditional family and children are not valued.

[@michellenelson11]

So, so good! I'm a mom of 6. We raise our kids the same way you ladies talk about. Our youngest is 11, oldest is 25. Our oldest is in the military. During a phone call when he was in basic training, he said, "Thank you for raising me the way you did." He saw the value when he was able to push through the hard parts of basic training. He said there was a definite difference. I want to encourage you and Jill (who I miss on KZbin, btw) that what you are doing will pay off. Your kids will thank you for it even if they never say it. God bless! ❤️

[@mcdc101201]

Grit is missing! I learned as a young mom- never expect what you don't inspect. Once they knew mom was going to follow through and check on the job, they slack less. I also say never work alone as a mom. And I'm working myself out of a job. Life skills are so important

[@mirandafreyberger9553]

Love this and love both of you ladies so much and all your wealths of knowledge you both so lovingly share with the world. Thank you !

[@10KidsandAGarage]

We also make our boys help. I have 8 boys that need to be boys. I hear so much of our culture not knowing how to work. I want my kids to be able to care for their family and knowing how to make a paycheck.

[@marge3157]

I used to feel bad for our 3 kids growing up because the work they put in was not how I grew up. They moved cows in the heat of summer, worked cows in sideways snow and raised their own animals for the fair for fun. Sometimes it was on birthdays and holidays. It was never paid. We never had the money. They always got to go places, have nice clothes and do fun things. At 22, 24, and 25 they have experience, work ethic, responsibility, resourcefulness, punctual and hustle. Not sure it was right but it worked for us. I think the key is let them try, let them get dirty, let them learn safety, let them know boredom.

[@kimwebb9550]

Lisa, I've noticed you often say, "I'm not an expert," but I would consider you one because you have more perspective and experience than most. Even those who have written parenting books could claim to be experts, but I would take your advice and wisdom over theirs! Thanks for this.

[@elisabethcuningham3526]

Please do more parenting stuff! As a mama with two young kids, I’m just getting started and have a lot to learn from mamas with more kids like you!

[@chrisschey7818]

It was a pleasure to see the level of intelligence, engagement & purpose you have brought to your families & to all of us. Thanks for keeping it so real & so fun.

[@MustangCountryGal]

Well-Educated Heart & Libraries of Hope has been so helpful to me as a mother and with homeschooling. They go along well with the books you talk about. It's free resources with great book lists, audios, etc. I've learned more in the last few years than I ever did in public school. Thank you both for this podcast!!! Your podcasts help me do housework and farm chores!!! 😉 It's great to have a friend/friends along to help even if they are just talking!!!

[@merrileemcdonald448]

Yes, I agree while heartedly!

[@blessedacres2562]

I have ZERO help! Homeschooling and a homestead. I’ve only had my mom babysit when I was in the hospital delivering my other kids. Thank you for the encouragement!! Oh my goodness, that is 100% my son and daughter. My daughter is younger and can be trusted to do a job with much more confidence than my son who is 2 years older.

[@Hillside-Hive]

Sermon yesterday covered how youth is for intense labor. It's so nice to see others that instill hardwork into their kids.

[@frugalmomofmany]

I have seven boys and three girls. Trust me, it's a boy thing! However, if you keep working at it and training them while they are young, it will switch at some point and they will be amazing hard workers. My oldest is now 18 and has finished HVAC college training program and works a full time job. He's a delight, and I will be happy for him to stay home until he is married some day.

[@momsnewlife1197]

My baby will be 19 in a couple of weeks. We homeschooled like this. They now hold jobs and people love to work with them, some of my kids are building business. All you hard work will pay off. Love the video.

[@gardengirl1191]

Thank you Lisa. The intro to Jill is wonderful. Smart interview.

[@blackriflehomestead]

Would love to hear more about homeschooling from you two!

[@naturalliash]

Ok, how cool is this! My two favorite KZbin gals giving us all their wisdom! Thank you both so much! I'm a Mama of 4 little ones and they're 4 years old and younger. We didn't waste any time having kiddos. 😆 We've recently begun the homesteading process and it's A LOT of work! (But so worth it!) This is definitely my favorite podcast so far because it hits home and gives me confidence knowing that I'm not an evil Mom for putting my kids to work and having healthy expectations for them. 😅 Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🥰💜

[@Nicereview763]

This was fantastic, I think I'm naturally child centered but at the same time feel frustrated because I feel I can't do anything by myself. With 3 little ones, my oldest is 4.5, I feel I need to make a change now both getting them to play more independently and also to have more responsibility and help more.

[@amyalsumali1613]

I’d love to hear a podcast about “common mistakes” you made as first time mothers!

[@meganlokemoen-steege3788]

Thank you SO MUCH for this. I was raised in a very nurturing, child centric parenting style and I’m trying to raise more resilient kiddos. There’s not a ton of info or like minded people that raise kids this way and it just feels so freeing hearing your perspectives. Would love more on child rearing in the homesteading world

[@MrsAPeterson]

Watching this as my 8 week old has just fallen asleep for a nap. 11 year old is off at school. Thanks!

[@mirandab1945]

I'm only 7 minutes in and I'm just like yesss! I struggle not revolving my life around my kids. I tell them my parents done their own thing and us kids done our kid stuff. My parents loved us. Made sure we were cards for and loved and had all we needed but they didn't cater to us. I don't have any social media unless watching KZbin counts, but I fully believe that social media has so much to do with this. Even not having I hear things that are posted. I hear people praising parents doing this and that with their child which pressures me to do these things . We have a farm and our kids are involved but I still find myself revolving my world around my kids and babying them with little things. Like oh, its way too cold out, you stay in and I'll go do your outside chores. But in reality, I'm being lazy and getting out of bundling them up and avoiding any whining and complaining.

[@hatcherhomestead]

Wow....yes. I'm right there with you! I also love by serving others which makes it more difficult too.

[@shirleygermain5707]

You both are bringing up good kids. More of this!!!

[@wiewi89]

Gosh, this is the most enjoyable podcast I've listened lately

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Such great points! Our children are between 16-21 and have made Junior Olympic teams and one made a world team in sports. But we seriously have our own things. We get asked all the time how our kids have found so much success. We say “don’t make the world all about them”

[@yolondabarrette4621]

Two of my favorite KZbin channels.

[@kristinb5139]

It's tricky in our small suburban home to find these moments that I feel like you guys describe, yes we have chores but not big work. Feels emptier I guess, less essential

[@LittleValleyAcresFarm]

I can really relate with this video and our kids on the farm.

[@thoma2939]

Signed up for your podcast! Excited about good content. Even though my kids are grown and I live in town....

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Lol one more point my husband was raised just miles from Jills homestead. And we moved to Alaska, but Wyoming wind still wins hands down more brutal winter in Wyoming.

[@heathereriksson1465]

I love that whole viewpoint about our lives not revolving around the kids!! I love and take great delight in my kids, but I think I share in this unpopular view too. I don’t want to feel like I have to play with them all the time. I’m a city-dweller, but I do have a fenced-in yard and my kids love playing out there and I have trained them to be by themselves out there! By age 4 they will play alone outside :) I’m planning to homeschool for the first time next year, my upcoming second-grader. We plan to use a Charlotte Mason curriculum. I loved this chat- thank you so much!!

[@childoftheking9907]

Thank you for this! I loved it!

[@ceegee6625]

Very fun. Good info!

[@sarahperkins-aiton822]

Ok Jill… can we get more info on the photo on your wall tho. I need lol ❤️ But seriously thank u ladies for sharing this! I love it! 💯

[@sarahmarzolo2100]

Jill I love the picture behind you! Also I wish we had the "homesteading " bug when my two oldest were little. They are adapting well, but I feel like it would have been easier had it always been a part of their life.

[@monstermeghan7617]

Reading “Weapons of Mass Instruction” was a game changer for me! I was so delighted to hear that John Taylor Gatto is on your must-read book list as well. It’s always nice to be reminded that I’m not that “weird” after all, haha. Great conversation!

[@deborahcrutchfield5022]

I went to Jill’s podcast it’s not up there??

[@merrileemcdonald448]

I read before, "child centered but not child focused"

[@deannac1949]

I love all of this, but I’m three kids deep, and we’ve gotten off to a lazy start. My oldest is eleven. What now?

[@kristinb5139]

Me too!

[@HomesteadingChicks]

You can always tell your kids you found out something new and you want to try it! I’m learning too. I tell my kids I’m sorry, I’ve gotten off track with doing what’s best.

[@catedennis41]

Jill is one to "teach" others. When she first started her blog many years ago, she dissed older people. I confronted her about it and she removed that section from her blog. What a fine example she is - ha! ☹

[@tunneleddiscovery5]

Carhartt...🤣

[@Heatherrr1234]

Makes me love them even more 😂

[@TheHeritageArtsPodcast]

I was confused by that segment…I knew they were talking about Carhartt…but couldn’t understand the sidestepping? Is there some inside joke?

[@tunneleddiscovery5]

They're just not endorsing and pushing the brand. Most influencers understand when they mention a name that folks flock to buy things. Then somehow hold them responsible for quality and their experiences with the mentioned company.

[@TheHeritageArtsPodcast]

@@tunneleddiscovery5 Ohhh, gotcha! Totally makes sense!

[@Heatherrr1234]

@@TheHeritageArtsPodcast they forced the vaccination on their workers. Idk if they went through with it but that’s what I heard last

[@mirandab1945]

I also have a hard time figuring out what they are capable of doing for their ages. I have 3 5 and 7. I don't have faith in my 3 yo boy doing anything right soni never make him lol. My 5 yo girl gets the eggs. My 7 yo girl is left doing the rest which may not be fair, but she always enjoys it the most. Idk to push the Younger two more or let them grow more 🤷 the younger 2 are the complainers lol

[@thoma2939]

Hire a first born daughter! Agree!

[@robincarrico2007]

When your kids are adults they will tell you your mistakes. BUUUT as you know better... do better.

[@sherriginter5792]

Gum sounds awesome for chores. I do 2 mms for going potty. One in each hand. 😉