My sister that I struggle to get along with called me last week and said she was hosting one of our uncles at her house and he wanted to go see the WWII memorial in DC. She wanted me to meet her there to see him. I said yes, I would come.
Last night one of my does (goats) unexpectedly went into labor and gave birth. The newborn kid is doing fairly well all around, I think. It took some work to get her to accept him and for him to nurse (I was up most of last night) but he looks OK. But, he is not even 24 hours old and the trip would require me to be away for more than 12 hours.
Usuaully, I have a back up person I can have watch my animals, but she happens to be away. My back up back up is reluctant to be responsible for such a newborn.
My sister will be really annoyed if I cancel. (Oh yeah daughter wants me to cancel as she would prefer to go to another event and stay with the baby. I am really torn. So, which would you do?
OK everybody. The vet finally called and he said go. I have a neighbor coming by just to check on them, I am more worried about the others in the herd getting into their enclosure more than most anything else. Ok and yeah, I was almost looking for a reason to not see sister. But, I'll go, and I'll play nice and I will use worry about baby to cut visit short of I cannot handle her. Thanks!
Well, if you are needed to care for the baby, I don't really see how you have a choice.
Sometimes things happen and plans need to change.
Since when do goats have help birthing babies? Isn't that done in the wild all the time? I see huge herds of wild mountain goats in Calgary, and they seem to fair well.
I vote you go, and leave momma alone to tend to her young.
Can you call your vet and see if they have someone they could recommend to check on them for you? If not then you need to stay home and tell your sister what happened and you are sorry but you need to bow out.
I would go. I'm figuring here that your uncle is getting older--? He won't be around forever, so do this special trip to see him; I'd put him ahead of the baby goat on the priorities list. I suspect that the key factor here is that you would prefer not to spend time with your sister and the baby does justify that--IF it were just a visit with her. But don't let your relationship with her interfere with seeing your uncle. For this short time, just swallow whatever your sister says or does that bugs you and don't get into anything with her; focus on him and redirect her focus onto him if she starts to "get your goat"....so to speak.
My in-laws have a farm and I can tell you that they've had to cancel plans MANY times because of a birth. Just because he's nursing, doesn't mean something can't go wrong....and all it would take is a few hours and he could be gone. Sorry if that sounds melodramatic, but if your animals are important to you then that's where you need to stay.
I would call your uncle separately and apologize for having to break your plans.
If mama goat has accepted the kid - go, come to DC!!
I get why you would be torn, but really? It's an animal - and they've been doing their thing for thousands of years. You said yourself she's taken to him and nursing him.
Go. Be with family. COME TO DC!!
I'm with the others. As long as momma has accepted him, he really doesn't need any human care. Momma will do her job. Yes, it would be more fun for your daughter to hang out and play with the baby goat, but you made a commitment and you should honor that. Plus, you can look at it as uninterrupted time for momma and kid to bond more.
Has the mother accepted him? If so, go. She can do her job.
I think the baby goat would be okay.
I would go.
I agree with AKmom - if the mother has accepted him and the baby can nurse, you should go on the trip. Animals are born all over the world every day without having people to care for them. Unless there is a health concern (in which case you need a vet anyway), I don't see a reason to stay.
This is no judgement, just perspective for life..
Sorry, but humans come before animals.
I would never miss out on a trip like this over a pet, or a farm animal.
I would have gotten on craigslist or called my church..
When you get back, start figuring out how to expand care takes for your animals. We need to be prepared for situations like this.
Have fun. Baby will be fine.
Seems unfair to cancel on your sister... Newborn is doing ok and there's no emergency...
If you cancel, your sister will be irked. And maybe Uncle too.
But if they understand, then it will be fine.
What is their personality?
Call a Vet or something, and get some professional advice.
Is there anyone else, an adult, in your home, that can help with the newborn?
Then, your daughter (how old is she?) wants you to cancel.
Well is she old enough to tell you what to do?
Your daughter wants to go to another event, yet stay with the baby?
How can she do that if she goes to another event?
I hear through your excuse to not go. I have two sisters that I really want to have back in my life but I cannot right now due to fighting. Make it a short trip if you get a call to come back home--that's the out you want to have.
Sounds like you really don't want to go. We (myself included so no judgement here!) can always find an excuse to get out of things we really don't want to do. The goats will be fine. People are more important. You made a commitment to your sister and your uncle. GO!
