Meet Natalie Kovarik, host of the Discover Ag podcast and friend of the brand. While she & her husband own and operate a ranch in Nebraska, Natalie has the even taller task of raising 3 young boys in the middle of rural, small town America. We asked her to impart a bit of wisdom to share with all the mom's out there, see what she said...
What does being a mom mean to you?
Hodding Carter said, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other is wings.” And that is the best way I can sum up motherhood. That daily I am in a constant battle of feeling immense joy and optimism in helping my boys grow and thrive and experience life to the fullest, and sadness to know that my time with them isn’t infinite and one day they will spread those wings and leave home.
What is it like raising your kids on a cattle ranch?
Raising my kiddos out in the country is actually one of my favorite things about being in agriculture/ranching. I always joke that ranching and farming is the ultimate “bring your kids to work day” and while yes, some days this kind of continuous lifestyle can lead to added stress and more work. The majority of the time it is a blessing that I am eternally grateful for. As a mom nothing beats seeing your kids barefoot, covered in dirt and feeling the connection to the pulse of the land and animals. But beyond that fun and freedom, I love that the ranching way of life also affords my kids equal amounts of opportunities to teach hard work, commitment and responsibility. It is my hope that all the time we spend together on the ranch as a family working, laughing and living will shape my boy’s life in the same way that agriculture shaped mine.
Do you have any advice for the new moms out there?
Surround yourself with an ally of other women that you can link arms with and walk alongside during this wonderful journey of motherhood.
Is there something you wish you knew before going into motherhood?
How hard the teenage years are, ha. Society places a lot of discussion and support around mothers for the younger years - babies, toddlers etc. But not as much in the later years. Which is ironic considering as your children ages it seems the problems and stresses are bigger, more significant and just heavier on your heart.
Do you connect with your kids through music?
Yes definitely. I connect, feel and experience music in a way that I think maybe not everyone does. It is a love that runs deep and a love that I am always actively trying to force/pass onto my children, ha. My oldest son has definitely fallen prey. He and I are always sending each other new drops/releases we think each other would enjoy and we love to go to concerts and discover new artists together too. It’s almost like shared music between two people is a secret language that only those two are speaking, and I hope to have that between all my boys and I.
How does your Turtlebox play a part in raising your little ones in the outdoors?
Turtlebox is officially another member of the family ha The versatility and durability of it means Turtlebox goes everywhere with us and helps turn a moment into a memory. Because that is what music does, it elevates experiences and creates magic out of mundane. It is my hope that as my boys age they will hear a song and immediately be transported back in time to the fond memories they had with their dad and I on and off the ranch - all because of the Turtle Box.
