When the RISSE kids come to Bedlam Farm, as they did this afternoon after having lunch at the Mansion, it brings out the father in me. It was below freezing on the farm, raining snow and ice. It was cold and damp, one of those days that causes us to wear several layers of clothes, waterproof boots and wool caps and hats.

The RISSE kids show up in light sneakers, even slippers, some with hooded sweatshirts, most in plain shirts with no jacket or hats. Sometimes, this is because they have no winter clothes or money to buy them, sometimes, it’s because they’ve never seen an upstate New York winter and just don’t pay much attention to it.

We’ve gotten a fair amount of clothes for the kids who need them. Ali has a great and healthy attitude to these kids. He guides them when he can and corrects their behavior where necessary, but he doesn’t take winter seriously, he’s alwas dressed for a summer or early Spring stroll.

One by one, the kids, some of the anxious, stepped forward to meet Lulu and Fanny and offer them cookies. Some were shivering, others were ankle deep in snow and ice with plan sneakers.

This brings out the Father in me, but I keep my mouth shot. I am not their father or their mother, and am going to nag them about clothing, if anybody should, it would be Ali, and he doesn’t.

When I saw them all shivering and stomping their feet, I suggested they head home before a winter storm arrives, as predicted. They loved seeing Red herd the sheep and meeting the donkeys, but I saw they were happy to get into the van.

I love these kids as I come to know them, but I am not their father and their mother, and that is a relief to me. Most had never seen a donkey and were genuinely frightened to hold their hands out to her. After a few minutes, the girls had charmed them, as they so often have done. I love introducing kids to the donkeys and telling them what amazing creatures they are.