I've had some--but limited--interaction with people who make their livelihood through agricultural. The experiences come from both the United States and England. In both cases, the people were very unsentimental/understated about the tide of life that comes with agriculture. There's a **lot** of loss and struggle. When I first stayed with my husband's family, before we were married, the farm up the lane was raising sheep, and every winter there would be lambs who didn't make it. When we came back to live there, the family was raising cattle. People did mention, sometimes, kids being sad about this or that thing related to farm life, but it was in a very matter-of-fact way, a very that's-life way. I mean with agriculture, it's so easy to be utterly ruined. We were in England right after the mad cow fear--things like that can kill an industry. Or you're growing crops but there's a drought, and the entire crop is wiped out. Well, you know.
I have no experience with France, and any given person is an individual first and a farmer second, but it could be that that outlook affects how the guy expressed himself.
But **we**, your friends, will and do commiserate. It was really really hard! I'm so sorry for the kids' loss. You absolutely did the right thing--for everyone--but that doesn't do much for the kids' sadness (or yours).
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branchandroot
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Date: 7 Sep 2018 10:58 am (UTC)I've had some--but limited--interaction with people who make their livelihood through agricultural. The experiences come from both the United States and England. In both cases, the people were very unsentimental/understated about the tide of life that comes with agriculture. There's a **lot** of loss and struggle. When I first stayed with my husband's family, before we were married, the farm up the lane was raising sheep, and every winter there would be lambs who didn't make it. When we came back to live there, the family was raising cattle. People did mention, sometimes, kids being sad about this or that thing related to farm life, but it was in a very matter-of-fact way, a very that's-life way. I mean with agriculture, it's so easy to be utterly ruined. We were in England right after the mad cow fear--things like that can kill an industry. Or you're growing crops but there's a drought, and the entire crop is wiped out. Well, you know.
I have no experience with France, and any given person is an individual first and a farmer second, but it could be that that outlook affects how the guy expressed himself.
But **we**, your friends, will and do commiserate. It was really really hard! I'm so sorry for the kids' loss. You absolutely did the right thing--for everyone--but that doesn't do much for the kids' sadness (or yours).