Animals have an unexplained love and protection for their young. They give no second thought to provide the protection needed. But the one I have witnessed that holds the most intense form of protection is that of the mama cow.

Once that calf hits the ground their level of alertness kicks in full force and never reduces. They have no respect for personal space and if you make an attempt to approach that calf with no one to help, you will be stomped into the ground.

Mama cows display that level of craziness that we all as human mothers wish we could display at times. Those times when someone criticizes how we parent our children, or criticizes how our children act in certain situations. When another child pokes fun at your child for the clothes they wear, or how their body image is. We as human mothers wish we could lose our shit at those times, but have to remain calm for the sake of our children in teaching them how to deal with those difficult people.

Not for mama cows though, they get to lose their shit every single time you try and mess with their baby. I have seen cows stomp people, tip a four wheeler over, buck around, kick, snort and scream because their calf must be tagged and have antibiotics applied.

As our calving season gets off to a strong start, we’re reminded of the craziness all over again. Yesterday we welcomed our second calf that at four hours old was running and jumping around. Umbilical cord still attached and mama still cleaning up afterbirth and this little one is bouncing around like a toddler, making the mama so incredibly nervous she did not know what to do. This calf earned the name of Turbo.

Cows are amazing. Animals are amazing. Imagine minutes after giving birth being able to stand up, walk around and care for your baby. But as humans we lay in a hospital bed for sometimes days, recovering. Going almost a whole year before your baby learns to walk and run around, where calves immediately get up and find their ability to walk.

Cows calve out and are immediately reminded of what their body was before getting pregnant, but humans must work at it and it can take months to years to receive that reminder.

To have the strength that mama cows carry would be incredible, but it’s incredible enough being able to watch it happen. To see each beautiful life enter this world and to be able to assist in the care of that life is an unforgettable experience and each year brings something new memories.

If only humans would realize every child’s life is, in it’s own way, beautiful. Every child is different and they should not be judged by it. Every parent is different and they should not be judged by their parenting techniques.

Mama cows also have the innate ability to care for other calves as if they were their own. No judgments, they just do it. Something us humans could learn from, because it honestly does take a village. A village of understanding that not all children are the same. A village of correction and not belittling. A village of realization every parent has their own way of doing things and sometimes they need advice and sometimes we need to realize when they don’t.

Mama cows can teach you a lot, with the most important lesson being: do not get too close their baby if you are not prepared to have your skull stomped into the mud.