On Mother's Day I thought back to my Mom and all she did so I saw that a blog post was necessary.
My grandparents were born in the southern part if Britain in a rural area. My grandfather was a farm worker. He went around to farms and was a butcher. If a farmer wanted an animal butchered , my Grandpa was called to do the job. It was not a high paying occupation.
There was a series of recessions in Britain in the early 1900's. A church group in Canada sponsored my grandparents and two children to come to Canada. They were set up in a house and expected to make a living with a market garden.
My mother was born after they came to Canada. Mom dropped out of school at the end of gr nine. She got a part time job baby sitting and house work. The family she worked for were very good to her.
Mom met my Dad about 1937 and they were married in Feb 1938. They Took the train to the small farm. Friends picked them up from the train station. Dad went over to the shack and started fires in the stoves. The next day they moved into the house with a few meagre belongings.
Dad had a small farm which had very dilapidated house. The house was cold and small with no conveniences. Water was hauled by pail from a well. The house was heated by wood. There was no electricity. There was not enough income from the farm to make a living. The odd job got them enough to live on.
Mom had not lived on a farm so she had to quickly learn some farming. She milked cows when Dad was busy with field work. She learned to drive horses as they had no car. She did not like staying alone and fortunately that seldom happened.
Mom had four babies by 1944 in this small house. It was bedlam in the small house with four kids. Three of us slept in one bed. One of us had epilepsy. We took our clothes out to the big room and dressed buy the heater.
By 1948 they were able to build a house so conditions were better. They were still missing some conveniences but the house was much warmer and had some conveniences. There was more space for kids and did I say it was warmer!
As little kids were very active so there was lots of noise in the house
Growing up in the new house was pleasant.
Tragedy happened when her eleven year old daughter passed away.
Things moved quickly some kids moved out and other started farming. Their farming was much more lucrative from the forties to seventies.
They retired in the early seventies. In 1973 Mom passed away from Cancer They enjoyed about three years of retirement.
In spite of all the hardships Mom was cheerful and loving. She looked after us as best she could. Everyone else lived with the same hardships so we didn't know any different.
Red, your Mom had a hard life, for sure. And yet she succeeded in raising her children, and i bet you all knew the value and necessity of hard work. She was quite a woman! Few could measure up to her today. Thank you for sharing her story.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice learning more about your mom. Life certainly was hard back then but most people didn't complain. I always marvel how people such as your mother were so cheerful and loving. They set some good examples that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThose are nice photos. I can't imagine all that activity in a small house. My first father-in-law died in North Dakota during March. Had to wait til the ground thawed there too. My parents' story is that my two older brothers lived with them after WW2 in a metal barrack, where the blanket froze to the interior wall during a very cold Oklahoma winter. I waited to enter the world until things were better! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeletePeople just got on with life, didn't they? There was no time to complain, and no point, either.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of Little House on the Prairies.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy reading your childhood (and earlier) posts, even if they were about how hard times were back then.
ReplyDeleteWow, your Mom was a strong, adaptable woman. I'm glad you have good memories of her. My Mom and Dad were married 78 years ago today so I've been thinking about them all morning. We lived in a suburb of Chicago so our home life was very, very different from yours, Red.
ReplyDeleteIt's always shocking to me what people lived through homesteading, but as someone else said, everybody was in the same boat. I'm pretty sure that all immigrants want a better life for their children and they work damned hard to do that. Your parents are proof of that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Mr. Kline:)
My mother had a hard life too, raised seven children, cared for all of us, worked hard all of her life, and was worn out but still loving and caring until her death at almost 90. I could not manage the hardships she experienced. Our parents were made of stronger stuff. They had to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing some of your mother's story.
Such a strong woman! Thank you for sharing some of your family history!
ReplyDeleteThank You for sharing this story about your Mom! What a role model she was!
ReplyDeleteNice tribute and post on your Mom! I am not sure how i would have survived living in the early 1900's. We sometimes take for granted our easy life now. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteInteresting family story. Thanks, Red, for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMother's Day always brings back memories.
ReplyDeleteYour mum was resilient and adaptable as well as hard working. Those are great qualities.
ReplyDeleteYour tribute is lovely
Dear Red reading this beautiful heartfelt sharing my eyes couldn’t stop shedding tears!
ReplyDeleteYou are truly fortunate that you had such a strong,dedicated and loving mother! She was certainly an inspiration ♥️
You told her story of life so beautifully. I loved how she faced everything with bravery,wisdom and grace! It reminds me my own mother. Our mom shared pain of loosing one child,mine mourned for rest of her life and I am sure yours too whether openly or inside her heart!
It was so lovely to learn about your grandparents and parents and the way you spent your childhood!
Thanks for sharing