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WINTERTIME FUN. III QI C '0 :E III QI Q QI :E ... o > Vl ~ ... :> o U C HAP T E R F V E In all cultures family structure is significant, but to the Old Order Amish it is crucial because in their society the family controls the entire range of life activities. Socialization of the young is almost totally controlled by parents because of their belief that Amish people should be separated from the world. Within that sphere, most parents provide formal education for their offspring through the maintenance of parochial schools. Religious training begins when the child is very young and continues throughout the formative years until the time of baptism; it is all-pervading because daily religious services are held in the home, religious education is included in the school curriculum, and the major social activities of the young take place in a religious setting. When the Amish child finishes the eighth grade, the parents provide an intensive vocational training period where the emphasis is on "learning by doing." Even when Amish members reach retirement age, they are cared for within the home rather than being placed in a retirement home or care center. 54 • Family Life An Old Order Amish farmstead fairly hums with activity every day of the week except Sunday. The Amish are early risers, and on a typical workday after a hearty breakfast, everyone is ready to go to work. Frequently the Amish father will use the breakfast hour to discuss the day's work with his older sons. The mother may also use this time to tell her daughters about the work schedule. Even without instructions, however, each knows from experience what his or her responsibilities will be. During every season, the men have different tasks to accomplish. Any comment to them concerning the work load invariably brings a response that they are working hard because they want to, not because they are compelled to. During the winter months there is always some "fixing up" to do around the farm, machinery to repair, or perhaps some building that needs to be done. With horses and a small dairy herd, the job of providing feed is continual. If their own work is light, they will perhaps help a relative or maybe give the bishop a 55 56 CHAPTER FIVE helping hand. If a horse or farm sale is being held in the vicinity, the Amish father and older sons will probably attend, hoping to find a bargain or two. Inside the house the scene is much the same. By midmorning of any weekday the mother and her older daughters have many different jobs under way. The sewing machine may be whirring as a teenager stitches up a new dress for herself or helps out with the mending; a pot is boiling away on the stove as the noon meal is prepared; on the kitchen cupboard a batch of bread is rising, soon to be punched down and placed into pans for baking. Like her husband, the Amish wife follows a seasonal work which means that there is much to do every day. With her family, she faces a heavy work load in completing the minimum necessities such as three meals a day; washing, ironing, and mending the clothing; and cleaning the house. Along with these responsibilities, however, the women must also work at different times of the year. During the spring a large garden is planted. During the summer months the garden requires constant care, and in late summer the produce must be canned. Summer is also the time when Amish women must sew the children's school clothing as well as that for other family members. No doubt there are also other outside projects to be done during the summer months such as painting buildings or yard work. The relationship between most family members is close. The family size leaves little room or time for privacy or isolation from other members. Rather, it appears that the children have learned to depend on one another for companionship as well as for assistance with their work. Outward signs of affection may be uncommon, but a pervading sense of concern for one another can be felt through the entire household. A warm bond of affection appears to exist between family members and they obviously enjoy one another. As in any home, affection is often expressed in a humorous way, with family members te,islng one another and joking about each other's activities. One topic...

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