I was a boy in the mid 40's to 50's . We lived in a rural community that didn't have very many amenities. For example, our roads were very poor. We didn't have electricity. We didn't have TV. We didn't have running water. We didn't buy much from the store.
More than half our neighbors were Mennonites. The other half were English of some kind. Half the kids in school were Mennonite. It was an excellent community to live in. We learned many things from each other. So our neighbors were Epps, Friesens, Dicks, Bergens, Wiens, Neufeld, Siemens and Funk.
Now as little boys we had many activities to keep us occupied . We threw stones, climbed trees, wandered through the brush and if our dad's caught us we had some work to do. One day we left the school yard. We were allowed to leave the school yard at noon. There were no teachers doing noon supervision. We were to eat our lunch and then play out side. This system worked very well.
One day we were throwing rocks. We would see how far we could throw and there was always debate about who's rock went the farthest. We would see how high we could throw. This caused many arguments. We would try to hit telephone poles. With all this practice our aim was not very good and there were some errant shots.
So we were by the preacher's house one day and he came out and was very, very angry. One of our rocks must have landed in his yard or hit his house or car. We were some very quiet and subdued boys who quietly walked back to school. Since throwing stones must be in little boys DNA we continued throwing stones but in some other place.
We were very worried that our parents would find out and then we would be in big trouble.
So at the time I was a boy , people didn't hesitate to get after other people's kids. I was not a Mennonite but I got it and so I should have.
Today people just do not reprimand other people's kids. It would be too risky. Some wild eyed parent may become totally unhinged.
You're absolutely right. You have to be very careful these days when talking to other people's kids. And yes, back in the day, it wasn't quite that much of a worry. Sort of.
ReplyDeleteAs a first grade teacher, we all hugged our students who needed it. Then came the edict from somewhere that teachers shouldn't hug our little students. We didn't much pay attention to that.
Towards the end of our careers we had to be careful what we said. I taught some health and we really had to be careful with that one.
DeleteNow Epps I find interesting....that was Pirate's mother's surname before marriage....
ReplyDeleteIt was actually Epp and they came from Russia.
DeleteLanguage and names are fascinating. As far as I have found so far Epps came to the East of England...Anglia and Kent..mainly from "the Low Countries"...and were a mix of Romany and Huguenot..which seems worth looking at further. Especially as many Roma are Catholic....
DeleteThey were very different times.
ReplyDeleteYou remind me of throwing stones at cars driving past my grandfather's house. A man stopped and told us off and we scooted indoors 😅
There's a boy at my church who will take great handfuls of biscuits from the morning tea platter before the adults even get there. I had words with him but I know I'd be regarded as the dragon lady for doing so
And after becoming the dragon lady , would it do any good?
DeleteDuring the course of my 30 years teaching, I witnessed the rise of the very committed parent such as never missing a parent-teacher meeting despite their child doing very well. Earlier on, this didn't happen so frequently.
ReplyDeleteSome parents got better and some got worse.
DeleteThere was a time when a neighbourhood raised the children. Today, parents are afraid others will call CPS if the kids are outside a lot.
ReplyDeleteIf people stop and think. It's a community effort to raise a child.
DeleteI agree about keeping quiet now, there are some angry people out there. Some do not even want you looking at them. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's some very scary people out there.
DeleteYou have such great boyhood stories, Red, and you have a terrific memory. It's funny how I can remember the names of my childhood neighbors but can't always remember what I meant to go downstairs to get!
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm in the same condition you are. Sometimes I have to go back upstairs to find out what I was downstairs for.
DeleteSo true times have changed
ReplyDeletehope things swing back to sanity sometime soon.
DeleteThis was a fun read. I am just a little younger than you, but I grew up rural too. I remember in my early childhood getting our new water well with an electric pump and our first indoor faucet. It took years to get an indoor bathroom.
ReplyDeleteWe played outside a lot, and without many toys. Like you and your rocks, we made our own entertainment.
When I write about these topics or talk to my kids, I can hardly believe what I'm talking about.
DeleteThat's a wonderful childhood memory and you're right, we have to be a little more wary these days. Fortunately, I haven't come across any kids doing naughty things lately.
ReplyDeletethe poor kids are all closed up in the house.
DeleteThat’s an interesting look back. I wish you would tell us more about living with the Mennonites. I wonder if they are getting into social media these days.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different groups of Mennonites. Our neighbors were not communal but individual farmers. Yes, they have all the bells and whistles. I talk to my old friends on messenger.
DeleteYour last comment says it all. As I tell my wife and my daughter when they get frustrated with someone else in traffic, don't show your emotion . . he's probably armed.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started teaching it was very, very different.
DeletePeople are crazier these days. Lots of anger and it doesn't matter who it is. Keeping quiet keeps the peace but does it really?
ReplyDeletePeople believe in all kinds of looney conspiracies these days.
DeleteI made my own entertainment on the farm where I grew up. I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when kids are miss behaving:)
ReplyDeleteIt seems so simple to correct something and make it better for everybody. but sometimes it's easier to keep quiet.
DeleteRaising children no longer involves the community.
ReplyDeletevery very interesting story dear Red !
ReplyDeletei so enjoyed the portrait of your time as boy .you are great story teller .
i could relate because despite i was little girl in 80s environment i had was hardly different than one you mentioned except the diversity of people .we had cousins and familiar relatives around mostly .
but the entertainment was same as you told here .
i hope the preacher did not inform your parents and things remained cool :)
I wasn't aware that Mennonites were up that far north. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Our farm, though it wasn't that way in my youth, is in the middle of a large population of Mennonites these days.
ReplyDeleteWe always threw our rocks over a river or a distant fence, or targeted an object. Both were easier to judge than just distance alone.
That's exactly it -- reprimanding a child these days could bring on the wrath of a parent.
ReplyDeleteIn these days, you would be arrested, sued, or both. Allow me to add one thing: you were subdued on that walk back from school because you had learned right and wrong in the home. In some homes today, that is not the case.
ReplyDeleteMy sister tells the story: when her son got out of the military, he lived with them for a time while they were buying their first home. She and her husband were away and 'the kids' had the out-in-the-sticks house to themselves. Her son came bursting out of the bathroom after a shower yelling, "Get ready baby!! Here I come and I'M NAKED!!!!!!" He was much shocked to see the preacher and his wife standing at the screen door, his hand raised to knock.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the title, I thought there might be a female involved, and some smooching. Still, a fun story. Reminds me of the time a few friends and I rounded up some balloons, filled them with water, and threw them at cars. Some great splashes . . . and then one guy stopped, got out of his car and chased after us. Never ran so fast in my life!
ReplyDeleteYour last paragraph has made a very salient point and one which, whilst I can understand it, has overall has led to a severe lack of discipline overall.
ReplyDelete