Episode Summary: As we reach the end of the year, everything just seems to hit all at once—school’s out, Christmas is looming, and farm work doesn’t slow down. If you’re like me, you’re feeling the weight of it all, and maybe even a bit guilty for not being able to enjoy the holiday season as much as you think you “should.” The end-of-year overwhelm is real, and I want you to know that we’re all feeling it. This time of year, it’s easy to think everyone else has it all together, but trust me, they don’t.

In this episode, I’m getting raw and real about how chaotic this season is for so many of us mums. From the Christmas tree still not being up, to forgetting to move the elf for days on end—none of us are thriving right now, and that’s okay. I’ll be sharing how I’ve been managing (or barely managing) through the stress, and offering up some tips that have helped me keep my head above water. Let’s stop pretending we’re coping and start admitting that it’s hard—because it is. Together, we can make it through this season without completely losing it.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• The pressure mums feel to “do it all” during the holidays: The truth is, we’re all feeling the weight of trying to make everything magical for our kids while juggling a million other things. Social media makes it seem like everyone else is baking cookies, wrapping presents, and planning the perfect holiday—but behind the scenes, most of us are barely getting by. I open up about the guilt I feel when things slip, and why it’s okay to not do it all.
• Why it’s okay to not have everything perfect at the end of the year: There’s this constant pressure to finish the year strong, tick every box, and hit all our goals. But the reality is, we’re exhausted. I talk about why it’s perfectly fine to let some things go—whether it’s not sending teacher gifts, skipping the Christmas cards, or just ordering takeaway more often than you’d like. It doesn’t make us bad mums, it makes us human.
• Real tips to bring a bit more structure and sanity to the season: While I’m not about to tell you to overhaul your life, there are a few simple things that have helped me regain a bit of control during the chaos. From keeping a flexible routine to giving the kids small responsibilities, I share how adding just a little structure can stop the days from blurring together and give you a chance to breathe.
• The importance of letting go of expectations and focusing on what really matters: It’s easy to get lost in all the “shoulds” this time of year, but I’ve found that the most important moments are the ones where I’m present with my kids, not the ones where everything looks picture-perfect. I remind myself—and you—that the kids don’t care if the decorations are Instagram-worthy. They care about the time we spend together, even if it’s messy.
• How to get your kids involved without adding to your stress: Getting the kids to help around the house is a win-win—they feel useful, and you get a little help. But let’s be real, it doesn’t always go smoothly. I talk about the learning curve I’ve experienced with my boys, and how giving them small, manageable tasks (like unloading the dishwasher or putting their clothes away) has made a difference in keeping the household running, even if it takes a bit of extra time at first.

Resources and Links

• Grounded Farm Wife Journal
• Values Bundle

Connect with JESSICA:

Follow me on Instagram Grounded Farm Wife

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In this episode of Cultivate Contentment, I chat with Katie Hammock, an ER nurse, dairy farmers wife and boy Mom who is passionate about combining her love for emergency medicine with agriculture. Katie shares practical and often overlooked farm safety tips that help save lives. Katie shares essential first aid for farm families, providing practical tips that can genuinely save lives when accidents happen on the farm. As we head into the busy season with harvest and summer just around the corner, Katie’s insights are especially important for keeping your loved ones safe.

From tourniquets to whistles, Katie explains five life-saving items that every farm should have on hand. She draws on real-life stories from her career in the emergency room and experiences on her own dairy farm to highlight the importance of preparedness. We dive into the most common farm injuries and discuss how having a well-equipped first aid kit—and knowing how to use it—can make all the difference in critical situations. Katie also shares tips on keeping kids safe around farm equipment, making this episode a must-listen for every rural family.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• Five essential first aid items that every farm family should have: tourniquet, quick clot, vet wrap, whistle, and a CPR shield
• Real-life stories of farm accidents and how quick thinking and proper first aid tools can save lives
• Creative solutions for farm emergencies when typical first aid supplies aren't available
• Tips for keeping kids safe around tractors, equipment, and animals, especially during busy times like harvest season
• The importance of clear communication on the farm and having emergency plans in place

Resources & Links:

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

CONNECT WITH KATIE

• Follow her on @thedairywife
• Find farm first aid items on Amazon
• Purchase a Farm Emergency Kit

Connect with Jessica:

Follow me on InstagramGrounded Farm Wife

Check out my Website

Join my newsletter community

https://www.groundedfarmwife.com.au/podcast-1/25

In this summer update, I share some exciting news from the farm – we’ve just bought a new property! After months of searching, we found the perfect block right across the river from our home farm. It’s been a whirlwind, but this new farm will help us manage our growing herd and create new opportunities. From irrigation changes to planning our first maize crop, this season is packed with new challenges and exciting steps forward.

In this episode, I also talk about the realities of running a farm business and making strategic decisions for growth. It’s not all smooth sailing, and there’s a lot of work to be done, from learning to order water from the irrigation system to setting up miles of fencing. But it’s all part of the journey, and I’m sharing the ups and downs with you. I hope this summer update gives you a little insight into farm life and what’s been happening on our side of the world.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• The purchase of a new farm just across the river: We finally found the right property after almost a year of searching. It’s only a four-minute drive from our current farm, which makes it much easier to manage. The close proximity means we can share equipment and staff between the two farms without too much hassle.
• Managing a growing herd and young stock: With our herd growing to 650 cows for autumn, we needed more space for young stock. This new property will help us expand and better manage our replacements, but it also means a lot of work ahead to get the land ready for dairy use again.
• Transitioning from veggie farming to dairy use: The new farm used to be a vegetable farm, and while the soil is rich and perfect for our needs, there’s a lot of infrastructure work to do. We’ll need to put up fencing, install water lines, and prepare the land for grazing as it was flattened for vegetable production.
• Planning for the first maize crop and silage cutting: We recently cut 55 acres of silage on the new property, and now we’re preparing the soil for our first maize crop. This is new for us, so we’re relying on the advice of our agronomist to get it right, from planting to harvesting at just the right time.
• Challenges of setting up fencing and water lines on the new property: With 257 acres to cover, we’ve got about 15 kilometers of fencing and over a kilometer of water lines to install. It’s a big job, and while we plan to tackle the internal fencing ourselves, we’ll be bringing in contractors for the external boundaries to make sure they’re secure for young stock.
• Strategic decisions for the future of our farm business: Buying this new property was a necessary step for our long-term growth. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly, but after carefully planning our business strategy, we knew this was the right move to ensure we can continue expanding and managing our herd effectively in the years to come.

Resources & Links:

• Values Bundle
• Grounded Farm Wife Journal

Connect with Jessica:

• Follow me on Instagram @groundedfarmwife
• Check out my website www.groundedfarmwife.com.au
• Join my email list

Subscribe to the Cultivate Contentment podcast

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