Maria and I have often talked about what our lives would be like if we had had a child together. Having a puppy is very different from having a child, but that is as close as we are going to get,  sometimes, we get glimpses of the age old gender issues involved in parenting and nurturing.

Fate pays a lot of attention to me and Red out in the pasture – too much. I am working alone with her more, and that is working out well, and this morning, I decided it was time she was left alone with the sheep. “Are you sure?,” Maria asked me nervously.

Yes, I said. “Are you really sure?,” she asked, two or three times. Here I was, the father, sending the child out into the world to learn to fend for herself, here was the mother, a very strong woman, worrying it was too soon. The age old story. The thing about Maria and me is that we can talk about almost everything. And we do.

It was time, I explained. Fate needs to build some confidence in her own stills, without me or Red. She needs to get  used to the responsibility of herding sheep. I know her well now, she is appropriate and  calm with the sheep. She needs some time along with them. That will bring her own magnificent instincts out even more.Maria agreed.

I just walked into the house and left Fate outside. She watched me, looked for me, looked for Red. Then she settled in. She is a smart girl, she let go of the idea of us and started taking care of business. She sat down and kept an eye on the sheep.

A few minutes later, I looked through the window and was pleased at the decision. The sheep began moving towards the gate and out of the pasture, Fate got up and ran to the front of the block, she stood up and met them. Zelda rushed out to challenge her, but she stood her ground, and the sheep stopped and turned back. A first.

When I looked out the window again in about 15 minutes, she was lying quietly next to the sheep while they grazed. The pony and the donkeys ate their grass right nearby. A sweet tableau for me, the farm dog doing her job, at peace. Sometimes, you have to stay close. Sometimes you have to let go.